A man in a green shirt and bucket hat digs a hole for a new tree in the grass near a playground and houses. Other people are around him also planting trees.

Growing Shade

Boulder County’s Residential Urban Forestry Program

Growing Shade is a program that distributes and provides resources to care for new trees in disproportionately impacted communities. By expanding tree canopy, Growing Shade reduces extreme heat, improves air quality and public health, and makes our communities better prepared for climate change.

2026 is the second year for the Growing Shade program, bringing 100 trees and shrubs to Lafayette and 200 trees to Longmont. In 2025, the program distributed 100 trees in Longmont.

Growing Shade is a partnership between Boulder County OSCAR, the City of Longmont, the City of Lafayette, and the PLAY Boulder Tree Trust.

Partners

Urban forests are a climate solution

From cooling urban centers and soaking up flood waters, to building more pleasant communities, trees have many climate benefits.

Healthy trees create shade that helps keep neighborhoods cooler.
Robust root systems and leafy coverage can limit the severity of damage from heavy rain events, including flooding.
Trees are linked with happier and safer communities, decrease vehicle speed, provide shelter for wildlife, and even increase property values.

Urban Tree Canopy Assessment

In 2024, Boulder County analyzed existing tree coverage and opportunities for expansion across our community. The Urban Tree Canopy Assessment highlighted areas within the county with the greatest need for tree planting and set a target for 25% tree canopy coverage by 2050.  

Growing Shade is a program to help achieve this canopy coverage goal.

Cover of the Urban Tree Assessment Report