Urban Forestry/Natural Resources

One of the Park and Recreation Department's responsibilities is to maintain the City's inventory of over 33,000 trees located in parks, boulevards, golf courses, and other public places.

Trees are a valuable, important assets because they greatly enhance the community appearance, quality of life, and environment.  Benefits include reduced heating and cooling costs, greatly reduced stormwater runoff, less erosion, reduced pollution through carbon sequestering, and others. 

These trees also continue the heritage that began in the 1890's when Paris Gibson and other settlers planted thousands of trees in Great Falls. Their legacy and that of later generations have resulted in a public forest that is now enjoy.