On a cool autumn morning, Laura Marks goes out to help her neighbors replant a tree damaged by a severe buck rub. Buck rub is when a deer, usually a young male, rubs against a tree causing damage to the bark. She gathers her tools and walks over to start digging up the tree in the front yard of the Collinwood home. Her focus on trees and the community is, for us, why she is our next tree hero.
Laura Marks in her backyard (Photo by: Ryan Grzybowski)
Marks is one of the original tree stewards in Cleveland and the co-founder of Heights Tree People in Cleveland Heights. Now a resident of Collinwood she strengthens the canopy on the east side of one tree at a time.
In 2026, she partnered with councilman Michael Polensek to help the city of Cleveland plant 72 trees at Humphrey Park. She also serves on the Urban Forestry Commission at the City of Cleveland where she advocates for trees in Collinwood.
"The difference is quite noticeable, the area that Humphrey Park is in has [one of] the lowest tree canopy of any area in the City of Cleveland", Laura Marks. “When we step back at the end, we could see the park went from a blank slate to a lot of trees around the entrance and the playgrounds.”
Recently, she also took the role of being one of two Cleveland Tree Ambassador leaders in Cleveland. Laura has conducted more than half a dozen planting events and weekly watering days throughout 2026. Marks continues, "we got approval from our Urban Forestry Commissioner to allow citizens to mulch and water [trees], which will help them survive". Together, Laura and her fellow Tree Ambassador, Dan Lemon, have brought out over 100 volunteers to Tremont, Ohio City, and Collinwood in 2026.
Her stewardship in Collinwood and commitment to Heights Tree People has not gone unnoticed. In October, Marks received the resident of the year award in Ward 10, District 5. “[Polensek] really sees me as a resident who cares about our community. . .Caring means you will go out and pick up litter, help a neighbor, plant trees, or whatever is in your capacity to make your neighborhood better.” Laura said.
Marks’ impact has reached beyond the trees to the people around her; she’s strengthening Cleveland’s eastside, one tree and one person at a time.
Laura Digging up a tree that was damaged by buck rub in her neighbors front yard. (Photo by: Ryan Grzybowski)
Photo of Laura’s Resident of the year plaque with the words “ Resident of the Year, Ward 10 District 5, Laura Marks, October 2026”.