Coshocton Wins $1M to Plant 600 Trees, Needs Volunteers

The City of Coshocton landed a $1 million federal grant to transform its low-income neighborhoods with hundreds of new trees, and city leaders want residents to be part of the change.

The Forest Service grant through the USDA will fund planting 200 trees each year for the next three years across Coshocton's low- to moderate-income areas. Beyond planting, the money will also pay for tree inventory work, removing diseased trees, and clearing stumps that have been eyesores for years.

The city is now recruiting volunteers to help plant the first 50 trees this July. Three more planting sessions will follow in August, September, and October, each adding another 50 trees to the community.

Tree commission members will lead four groups during each session, with teams planting 12 to 13 trees. Before the first planting day, volunteers will attend a training session covering everything from digging proper holes to staking, mulching, and watering techniques.

Volunteers don't need to bring much besides work gloves. The city will provide all equipment, training, refreshments, and even T-shirts for participants.

The Ripple Effect

Trees do more than just look nice. In lower-income neighborhoods, they can reduce summer cooling costs by shading homes, improve air quality for kids with asthma, and increase property values for homeowners trying to build equity.

Studies show that tree-lined streets also encourage more walking and outdoor activity, building stronger neighborhood connections. For communities that have historically received less investment in green space, targeted tree planting helps level the playing field.

At the end of the 2026 planting season, Coshocton will host an appreciation banquet to celebrate volunteers and showcase the newly greened areas. It's a chance for neighbors to see the literal fruits of their labor taking root across town.

Anyone interested can email Connie Miller at City Hall (connie.miller@cityofcoshocton.com) for more details. The first planting date, time, and location will be announced before July.

This is the kind of investment that pays dividends for decades, one shade tree at a time.