Media Contact:
Veronica Mikitka Reed | vmikitka@mavenagency.com | 267.857.7338
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philly Tree Coalition Announces New Director at 50th Tree City USA Anniversary Celebration and Arbor Day Planting Event
The event, hosted by Public Health Management Corporation and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, celebrated Philadelphia’s anniversary as a Tree City USA.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — April 24, 2026 — Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) today celebrated the formal launch of the Philly Tree Coalition at an Arbor Day event held at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center in partnership with elected officials and community partners. The event marked Philadelphia’s 50th consecutive year as a Tree City USA, a designation awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation, and included the city’s official Arbor Day proclamation, a ceremonial tree planting, and the announcement of Kiasha Huling as the Coalition’s inaugural director.
The Philly Tree Coalition is a partnership bringing together community members, nonprofit organizations, and city agencies to drive community-led implementation of 2023’s Philly Tree Plan, the city’s first-ever 10-year strategic plan to equitably grow and care for its urban forest. As host of the Philly Tree Coalition, PHMC facilitates collaboration among Philly Tree Plan partner organizations and administers the community-based Tree Forward subgrant initiative.
“Equitably and effectively growing our tree canopy is one of the best, most cost-effective ways to create and sustain healthy communities,” said Kristine Gonnella, PHMC’s Managing Director of Strategy Development. “Public health begins in the streets and on our sidewalks and in our green spaces, and we’re proud that the Philly Tree Coalition will be coordinating efforts to support our neighborhoods through tree planting.”
The Coalition is dedicated to maintaining community voices and power in decisions related to tree canopy growth and stewardship, ensuring equity remains a central focus, fostering trust and collaboration among stakeholders, communicating through public-facing reports about Philly Tree Plan progress, and coordinating fundraising efforts. As a formal decision-making body with representatives from city agencies, nonprofits and community groups, the Coalition is supported by the William Penn Foundation and other public and private funders.
The city’s tree commitment is well established. Philadelphia is one of only 16 cities in the country to have earned the Tree City USA designation for 50 consecutive years. To maintain this designation, cities must meet four standards set by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Forests: maintain a tree board or department, adopt a public tree care ordinance, invest at least $2 per capita annually in tree care, and observe and proclaim Arbor Day.
“Philadelphia is proud to have such a longstanding commitment to urban forestry,” said Susan Slawson, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. “We’re excited that the Philly Tree Coalition will use those deep, strong roots to help make our city one of the greenest in the nation.”
Over the past year, Philly Tree Plan stakeholders; including city agencies, nonprofits, and community members, worked with the Hinge Collective to formalize the Coalition’s structure. Key milestones include the development of governance structures and bylaws ensuring shared decision-making; the creation of Priority Area Liaison (PAL) roles, which will bring up to 17 community representatives onto the Coalition; and the development of a six-month action plan of near-term shared goals. Additionally, Tree Forward, a subgrant program administered by PHMC and the Coalition, awarded $300,000 in its first round of funding to 10 community-based organizations across the city for projects advancing the Philly Tree Plan goals.
“When neighbors come together to collectively decide to improve our tree canopy, our communities grow stronger and healthier,” added Kiasha Huling, who joined PHMC this month as inaugural director of the Philly Tree Coalition. “Your zip code shouldn’t determine how green your streets are or how healthy the air you breathe is. The Philly Tree Coalition is making sure that as our city becomes greener, it also becomes more equitable.”
A longtime Cedarbrook/East Mount Airy resident, Huling has championed greener, healthier communities for over 15 years, working in public health, environment, community engagement and organizational development. As chair and former leader of UC Green, West Philadelphia’s community greening nonprofit, she oversaw the planting and maintenance of over 5,000 trees, and most recently served as Executive Director of Food Moxie at Weavers Way Co-op. She holds degrees from Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is the largest health and human services organization in the region and the public health institute for Pennsylvania and Delaware. PHMC uses best practices to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
About Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation manages the city’s extensive network of parks, recreation centers, and public spaces, enhancing quality of life for residents across every neighborhood. Through its TreePhilly initiative, the department works with communities to increase tree canopy, provide free yard trees, and promote environmental stewardship citywide.
About Philly Tree Coalition
The Philly Tree Coalition drives community-led implementation of the Philly Tree Plan, a 10-year strategic plan to equitably grow and care for Philadelphia’s urban forest. As host of the Philly Tree Coalition, PHMC facilitates collaboration among the Philly Tree Plan partner organizations and administers the community-based Tree Forward subgrant initiative.
Learn more about the Philly Tree Plan
###
