New Jersey municipalities accredited through the state’s Urban & Community Forestry Program may apply for grants of up to $25,000 for tree pruning and removal projects tied to existing tree inventory and risk assessments.
TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced April 24, 2026 that $250,000 is available for municipal tree maintenance grants through the New Jersey Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program. The program will award up to $25,000 each to about 10 municipalities statewide.
The grants are intended to support tree pruning and removal projects identified through an existing tree inventory and risk assessment. Municipalities must be accredited through the New Jersey Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program and must provide a 25% match, which may include cash or in-kind contributions.
The announcement was made during an Arbor Day event in Paramus, where state and local officials recognized the borough’s 50th consecutive year as a Tree City USA community. The DEP release also noted that Parsippany-Troy Hills in Morris County has held Tree City USA status for 50 years, making it one of only 16 communities nationwide to reach that milestone.
“Paramus and Parsippany-Troy Hills exemplify the spirit of Arbor Day through 50 years of leadership in caring for and investing in their urban trees,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “We join the Arbor Day Foundation in commending Paramus on their success, which highlights the importance of long-term planning, local investment and community engagement in sustaining healthy, resilient urban and community forests.”
For Morris County municipalities, the practical issue is whether local governments have the accreditation, tree inventory, and risk-assessment data needed to compete for the grants. The money is not for new tree planting alone; DEP described the program as a maintenance and risk-reduction grant meant to help communities act on existing tree data.
The DEP also announced a Spring Forestry Festival scheduled for Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the State Tree Nursery in Jackson Township, with tours, exhibits, Forest Fire Service displays, crafts, hikes, and other public activities.