Muscatine’s urban tree canopy is growing, thanks to a team of more than two dozen HNI Corporation employees who partnered with the City of Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department to plant trees across the community earlier this month.
The volunteers planted four varieties of trees — honey locust, tulip, crabapple and ginkgo — at locations throughout Muscatine as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to strengthen green spaces, replace trees lost to severe weather and disease, and improve the community’s urban forest.
Before getting started, volunteers gathered at Kent Stein Park for a hands-on tree-planting demonstration led by Parks and Recreation staff, including Parks Maintenance Supervisor Melissa Baker, Landscape Horticulturalist Jackson Axley and Lead Groundskeeper Ashlyn McKenzie. Iowa Department of Natural Resources representative Ellie Jones also provided information about the trees and helped identify planting locations.
Volunteers then split into three teams to plant trees at Kent Stein Park, Muscatine Soccer Complex and Soccer West, Muscatine Municipal Golf Course, Riverfront Park, Brook Street Park, Duncan Park, Fourth Street Park and the city parking lot on Chestnut Street.
The planting effort is supported by a recently awarded $42,000 Urban Forestry Grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The funding will provide 197 new trees for Muscatine, helping replenish the city’s tree canopy and maintain its public green spaces.
“Our corporate partners are vital to keeping our city beautiful and environmentally resilient,” Baker said. “We are incredibly grateful to the over 24 volunteers from HNI who gave their time and energy on Friday. Their hard work ensures these four new tree varieties will thrive, providing shade, lowering cooling costs, and adding natural beauty to our neighborhoods for decades to come.”
Urban trees offer benefits beyond their appearance. They provide shade, help reduce summer temperatures, absorb stormwater runoff and help mitigate traffic noise. The planting project also supports Muscatine’s Tree City USA designation, which the city has maintained for 34 consecutive years.
The city’s next tree-planting effort is planned for Spring 2027.
Residents interested in Muscatine’s urban forestry programs and future planting opportunities can find more information through the City of Muscatine Trees Portal.
