It’s a Beaut, Clark!

While the Griswolds had to venture deep in the woods to find the perfect tree, Knoxville is full of real “beauts,” and more are on the way.

The first week of December, Urban Forester Kasey Krouse and his team started planting 1,500 new trees in Knoxville.

These saplings will be planted in all corners of the City and will help us reach our goal of increasing Knoxville’s tree canopy to 40% by 2040.

Krouse says nearly four dozen varieties will be planted from December through March thanks to funding we received through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act.

All of this goes hand-in-hand with the goals laid out in the City’s Urban Forest Master Plan. The plan was developed after significant community input in 2023 and was  spearheaded by Trees Knoxville, in partnership with the City of Knoxville, the State of Tennessee, Keep Knoxville Beautiful and the Knoxville Utilities Board.


Trees help us:

• Increase shade cover
• Reduce the heat island effect
• Intercept stormwater to prevent flooding and water pollution
• And, can improve the quality of life for Knoxvillians

The bottom line this holiday season, not all gifts will be under the tree—trees themselves are the big gift!