Old Brooklyn Tree Stewardship Program

Over the past three years, the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC), in partnership with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC) and with support from CTC grants, has nurtured more than just trees—it has cultivated community, opportunity, and resilience. 

Through the Tree Stewardship program, over 100 trees have been planted and carefully maintained across Old Brooklyn, bringing new life to streets, yards, and shared spaces.  

Tree Stewards not only tend to the neighborhood’s canopy but also connect directly with residents. By offering free property assessments and tree recommendations, they help neighbors follow the right tree, right place  

For some, stewardship has been the first step toward green careers: one participant is now a certified arborist, while another became a Master Gardener. For others, the trees bring joy in more personal ways—like the neighbor who bakes pies each year from the serviceberries harvested from her front yard tree. The program has shown that tending trees also means tending community. It delivers measurable environmental improvements, while enriching daily life and opening doors to new opportunities. In Old Brooklyn, every tree is a sign of growth and connection. 

TL;DR 

Who: Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation 

What: Planting and maintaining over 100 new trees 

Where: The Old Brooklyn neighborhood on the west side 

When: 2023-2025 

How: Through CTC grant funds, the WRLC Sherwick Tree Steward Training, volunteer arborists, community development leaders, and individual support.