Sean Lee
GF Parks Forestry Operations Manager
Parks & Facilities
Trees & Flowers
North Dakota's longest-running Tree City USA — the Forestry Department cares for over 31,000 boulevard and park trees and the city's landscape gardens.
40+ Years as North Dakota’s longest-running Tree City USA
31,000+ Trees along the boulevards and in the parks
~1,000 New trees planted each spring
Forestry Department
A 40-year Tree City legacy.
Grand Forks is the longest-running Tree City USA in North Dakota and celebrates Arbor Day every spring. The Grand Forks Park District Forestry Department maintains over 31,000 trees along the boulevards and in the parks — and plants roughly 1,000 new trees each spring.
Each Park District forestry professional holds certification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and carries certification in chemicals used for pest and disease control — knowledge that informs tree care, disease response, and proper pruning.
Katy Cavanaugh
GF Parks Landscape Supervisor
Department history
A century of urban forestry
- Park District jurisdiction of berm street trees established in 1917
- First professional forestry personnel assigned exclusively to the tree program in 1950
- Professional management began in 1957 with the hiring of a new urban forester
- The Forestry Department cares for over 31,000 trees along the boulevards and in the parks in Grand Forks.
What the department does
Year-round responsibilities
- Planting trees on neighborhood berms to replace old, hazard, or diseased trees
- Planting berm trees along streets in newly developed subdivisions
- Reforestation in Park District parks
- Pruning berm trees
- Removal of old, hazard, or diseased berm trees
- Pest control of berm tree population
- Dutch Elm Disease Program
- Daily response to homeowner requests for berm-tree treatments
- Consulting services to homeowners on care of trees and shrubs on private property
- Planning, planting, and maintenance of Park District floral and landscape gardens
- Alliances with community groups and volunteers for Arbor Day and other celebrations
- On call day and night for berm-tree damage from wind, snow, and ice
Storm damage or emergency
After hours, call GF Police Dispatch.
For boulevard-tree emergencies (wind, snow, or ice damage) outside business hours, call the Police Dispatch non- emergency line. Report trees blocking alleyways to the City of Grand Forks Public Works Department. Trees on private property are the homeowner's responsibility.