Adopting a “must-have” tree mindset means mirroring the strategic investment we already provide for roads and utilities. It means planning for them, funding them, and maintaining them with the same rigor. It means setting canopy goals, investing in long-term care, and ensuring that every neighborhood benefits from their protection. It means integrating trees into broader policy conversations around climate, housing, and public health.
Most importantly, it means changing how we think.
We don’t ask whether we can afford sidewalks or clean water systems—we recognize them as essential. Trees belong in that same category. They are living systems that support our built environment and make our communities safer, healthier, and more resilient.
This Arbor Day, let’s celebrate by planting trees. But let’s also commit to something bigger: recognizing trees for what they truly are—not just amenities, but essential infrastructure we can no longer afford to overlook.