Grow Hamtramck is the City of Hamtramck’s tree-planting and tree-care program. Also known as the Hamtramck Urban Forest Program, it was rebranded to better reflect the City’s commitment to growing and caring for trees throughout the community. Grow Hamtramck is planning for the future of our City’s trees and aiming to substantially increase the City’s tree canopy coverage.

Grow Hamtramck’s goal is to build the City’s capacity to protect and care for existing trees while planting new ones to improve our tree canopy, especially where trees are missing or aging. The program has outlined 8 long-term goals to guide its work:

1. Plant 1,000 new trees, choosing the right tree types for each location.
2. Make sure new trees are watered and cared for so they stay healthy and grow strong.
3. Engage the community through events, meetings, and programs held outside of City Hall— such as at schools, places of worship, and community festivals.
4. Host at least workshops for residents and property owners to learn about the value of trees and how to plant them.
5. Complete and publish a 5-Year Urban Forestry Plan by the end of 2025, which will give the City a tree planting and care strategy.
6. Maintain a strong Community Advisory Board (CAB) that meets at least six times during the grant period to help shape the City’s Urban Forestry Plan.
7. Improve how the City plants and cares for trees by training our Department of Public Services (DPS) staff.
8. Keep our records up to date by tracking tree removals and new plantings using our asset management system, Treekeeper.

In Spring 2024, the City received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to support our urban tree canopy. With this funding, we’ve brought on a forestry program coordinator (Davey Resource Group), a community engagement partner (Friends of the Rouge), and a planting/watering contractor to help identify the best places to plant trees and to coordinate the planting process across the City.

If you’d like to see a tree planted near your home or in your neighborhood, please email us at treerequests@hamtramckcity.gov or fill out the Resident Tree Request Form here.

You can also access the Resident Tree Request Form by scanning the QR code below:

Please note: While we do our best to plant where requested, we cannot guarantee that every requested planting site will be viable for a new tree.

Yes! We will host tree planting events and workshops throughout the Grow Hamtramck initiative. Follow the City of Hamtramck on social media to stay updated on future events, or email treerequests@hamtramckcity.gov to join our contact list and get alerts about upcoming opportunities.

To protect both new and existing trees, the City has a Tree and Shrub Ordinance that seeks to prevent
damage to trees and ensure they are properly cared for. Violations of these tree protection laws can
lead to fines or other consequences. The City’s Beautification Commission is considering revisions to
these ordinances to do more to protect our trees.

New trees bring many benefits to our community, including:

• Cleaner air and improved air quality
• Shade and cooler temperatures during hot months
• Stormwater management and reduced flooding
• Increased property values
• More attractive streets and public spaces
• Better habitat for birds and wildlife
• Improved mental health and community well-being

You can help by:

• Avoiding damage to tree trunks and roots (don’t tie bikes to trees or mow too close)
• Encouraging your neighbors, family members, and friends to take care of trees
• Reporting any damaged or unhealthy trees to the City via treerequests@hamtramckcity.gov or to the Department of Public Services at 313-800-5233 x817
• Participating in community tree planting and care events

Grow Hamtramck is pleased to have the following community members supporting the initiative by
serving on the Community Advisory Board:

• Tom Habitz/Alicia Chiaravalli (Hamtramck Parks Conservancy)
• Linda Wolyniec (Hamtramck Public Schools Board Member)
• Hala Kayali (LEAP Student Organization, Hamtramck High School)
• John Deangelis (City of Hamtramck DPS)
• Dean Simionescu (Beautification Commission)
• Abdulmalik Algahaim (Hamtramck Public Schools Board President, HPC Trustee)
• Sheikh Yasser Agha (Islamic Center of Hamtramck)
• Reverend Sharon Buttry (Volunteer/HCI)
• Max Gilginas (CED/Mutual Aid)
• Peter Murray, non-voting member (Davey Resource Group)