With more than 7,350 trees planted since 2019, MadTree Brewing’s urban forestry efforts expand again—targeting neighborhoods with low tree canopy and high community need.
In its latest effort to expand Cincinnati’s urban canopy, MadTree Brewing joined forces with local partners and more than 20 organizations to plant 128 trees in the West End—part of its growing Let’s Grow Local initiative. This marks the seventh year of the program, which has now brought over 7,350 trees to Cincinnati neighborhoods since launching in 2019.
Let’s Grow Local is a community reforestation initiative launched in 2019 by MadTree Brewing, in partnership with Cincinnati Parks, Cincinnati Parks Foundation, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. Now in its seventh year, the initiative has taken root in multiple neighborhoods, planting a total of 801 trees across Clifton, Lower Price Hill, Mt. Auburn, Bond Hill, Avondale, and the West End (twice).
Add in MadTree’s sponsorship of Cincinnati Parks’ Fall ReLeaf program—which provides free trees to homeowners—and the company’s cumulative impact grows to more than 7,350 trees planted in Cincinnati since 2019.
“Let’s Grow Local embodies MadTree’s commitment to connecting people to nature and each other,” said Rhiannon Hoeweler, VP of Experience & Impact at MadTree Brewing. “Our dedicated employees, volunteers, and partners are proud to use MadTree as a force for good and give back to our neighbors. The West End’s new trees will cool streets, clean air, and create gathering places where communities can thrive for generations to come.”
From morning education to hands-in-the-soil action
The day began at MadTree’s Oakley Taproom with a health-focused educational session. Dr. Aimée Vester, Clinical Fellow in General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s, spoke about the direct connection between green space and children’s health, noting how better tree coverage improves outcomes in underserved neighborhoods.
Afterward, volunteers moved to Ezzard Charles Park, where teams were dispatched across the West End to plant trees and clean up public spaces. Specific sites included Dyer Park, Lincoln Recreation Center, and CityLink Center, with additional tasks like removing invasive species, cleaning alleyways, maintaining tree wells, and picking up litter.
Why trees, and why here?
Cincinnati’s urban forest is uneven. According to the Green Cincinnati Plan, 20 out of 52 neighborhoods have less than 40% tree canopy—an issue that worsens urban heat, degrades air quality, and increases stormwater runoff.
The Let’s Grow Local program addresses these inequities by prioritizing neighborhoods with the greatest need and planting trees that deliver proven community benefits:
- Air purification: Trees absorb pollutants and produce oxygen
- Heat reduction: Canopies can cool streets by up to 10°F
- Stormwater control: One mature tree can manage up to 1,000 gallons of runoff annually
- Mental and physical health boosts: Living near trees improves mood, cognition, and social cohesion
A broader coalition—and a deeper impact
This year’s event expanded its focus from planting to broader neighborhood beautification, with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful leading efforts to mulch, weed, and maintain existing greenery. The event also featured remarks from local leaders, including:
- Councilmember Meeka Owens
- Parks Director Jason Barron
- CRC Director Daniel Betts
- Parks Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Spieser
- Groundwork ORV Executive Director Sarah Kent
- Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Executive Director Jonathan Adee
- Natural Resources Manager Crystal Courtney
- Ezzard Charles Park Advisory Council Leader Stephan Pryor
What began with just 60 trees in 2019 has evolved into a citywide, multi-agency collaboration—and a template for how local businesses can drive long-term environmental change.
