08/31/2026
The Mahoning Valley Tree Corps plants thousands of trees around Youngstown and Warren in an effort to beautify downtown and residential areas as well as provide shade.
The organization plants trees in publicly available areas such as curb strips in residential areas, city parks, and community green spaces.
The tree corps is composed of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC), Youngstown CityScape, and Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership.
YNDC Neighborhood stabilization program assistant Jacob Stanko says the shade the trees provide helps cool neighborhoods, which may lower energy bills, and provides shade for pedestrians in public places.
“There have been studies that a healthy urban tree canopy reduces crime in the area, because it lowers the mental stress and helps beautify the area a little bit,” he said.
Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership operates in all of Warren. YNDC focuses on Youngstown’s residential areas while the CityScape focuses on the city’s downtown areas.
Trees planted by Youngstown CityScape along Park Ave
The initiative began when YNDC received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program in 2023, which requires them to plant 5500 trees over five years.
They are not allowed to plant agricultural, evergreen, or invasive trees.
The YNDC partnered with CityScape and Trumbull Neighborhood Partners to meet the quota. YNDC will plant 3000 while the other two will plant 1250 each.
So far, the group has planted 2107 as of Aug. 27. Anyone interested in a request for a tree near them can call the Mahoning Valley Tree Corps at 234-228-9349 or visit their website.
They may also contact the YNDC, Youngstown CityScape, or Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership.
The Mahoning Valley Tree Corps plants thousands of trees around Youngstown and Warren in an effort to beautify downtown and residential areas as well as provide shade.
