Kissena Park, New York City, New York
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” – John Muir
A Living Tribute to Honor NYC Connections
New York City isn’t just a place on a map. It’s a city that gets into people’s blood. For those who grew up here, worked here, loved someone here, or simply felt called to it, NYC represents something that can’t easily be put into words. Planting a memorial tree in someone’s honor at Kissena Park in Queens is a way to anchor that connection to something living and lasting. Every tree planted here helps restore a park that the community depends on, turning your tribute into a gift for the entire neighborhood.
Project Description
This gift tree planting project is located in the area around Kissena Park in Queens, New York City. It is part of The Gifted Tree’s urban forestry initiative, which focuses on planting groves of trees in urban spaces where green cover is most needed, including neighborhood parks, schools, and urban campuses.
Rather than planting a single isolated tree, your gift contributes to a grove. The trees planted through this project are more mature in their growth cycle, averaging 3 to 6 feet in height at the time of planting. This gives them a stronger foundation for long-term survival in an urban environment where conditions can be challenging.
Kissena Park sits within one of the most densely populated and urbanized areas of New York City. Over the past several decades, the park has lost significant tree canopy due to wind damage, flooding, and the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy. This project is working to reverse that loss by restoring forested natural areas within the park, improving park equity, and giving local residents access to healthy green space close to home. The benefits go well beyond aesthetics. Urban forests like this one remove air pollution, capture stormwater runoff, sequester carbon, regulate urban heat, and form essential green infrastructure for the health and resilience of the surrounding community.
Types of Trees Planted
The project plants a diverse mix of native species to develop a resilient, multi-layered urban forest. Species include Maple, Birch, Juniper, Oak, and Pine, all of which are native to the New York region and well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions.
Planting a variety of species is intentional. A diverse forest is a healthier forest, one that is more resistant to disease, better able to support wildlife, and more likely to thrive over time. The trees planted here create habitat and food sources for migratory birds and native pollinators, contributing to the broader ecological health of the region. They also provide meaningful social benefits, giving community residents a place to walk, breathe, and connect with nature within their own neighborhood.
Tribute Rooted in Resilience
New York City has faced floods, storms, and loss, and it has always come back. The trees planted at Kissena Park carry that same spirit. Choosing this location for a memorial or tribute tree means honoring someone with something that embodies the strength, endurance, and quiet beauty of the city itself. Your gift tree will grow alongside the community for decades, a living symbol of the person you’re remembering and the place they called home.
Virtual Tour
You can explore the general area of this planting project using the link below. The map allows you to zoom in and out to get a sense of the planting location within Queens, as well as its position within New York City and the wider region. For the best experience, we recommend viewing the tour on a desktop or laptop computer rather than a mobile device.
Once connected to the map, zoom in and out to get a feel for the planting area and its location within Queens, New York City, and the wider world. The virtual tour is best viewed on a desktop or laptop rather than a mobile device.
Please note that the map shows the general area of the planting project. Because trees are planted in groves rather than individually, we are not able to identify the specific location of each tree within the park, and there is no physical plaque marking individual gift trees. Visitors are always welcome to come to Kissena Park, and we take great pride in knowing that every tree planted here is making a lasting difference for the earth and for future generations. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Celebrate Their Love for NYC
New York City leaves a mark on people. Whether someone grew up running through Flushing Meadows, rode the subway to work for forty years, raised a family in Queens, or simply loved this city from afar, that connection deserves to be honored in a way that lasts. Planting a tree in their memory at Kissena Park puts something permanent into the landscape of the city they loved. Each tree helps restore the park’s natural beauty, supports local biodiversity, and creates a peaceful space where the community can gather, walk, and find a moment of calm.
Plant a Memorial Tree in New York City
Kissena Park is one of our most meaningful planting locations, rooted in a neighborhood that needs it and a city that deserves it. Choose your tribute design, select New York City as your planting location, and add a personal message. Your recipient will receive a beautiful certificate and tribute card with their personal message, and their tree will be in the ground contributing to the restoration of this beloved park.
Location listed on tree tribute planting certificate: Kissena Park, New York City, New York
Questions? Call us at (800) 984-2101 and speak with a real person.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planting a Tree in New York City
Where exactly is the tree planted?
Trees are planted in the area around Kissena Park in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York City. This is an urban forestry project, so trees are planted in groves rather than individually. We are not able to identify the exact location of a specific tree within the park, but your tribute certificate will list Kissena Park, New York City, New York as the planting location.
Can I visit the planting site?
Yes. Kissena Park is a public park in Queens and is open to visitors. There is no physical plaque or marker designating individual gift trees, but you are welcome to visit the park and spend time in the area where the restoration project is taking place.
What kind of trees are planted at this location?
The project plants a mix of native species including Maple, Birch, Juniper, Oak, and Pine. Trees are selected to support a diverse and resilient urban forest that can thrive in New York City’s climate and provide lasting ecological and community benefits.
Why is this planting project focused on an urban park rather than a forest?
Urban areas often have the greatest need for tree canopy restoration. Kissena Park lost significant green cover due to Superstorm Sandy and years of storm damage. Restoring trees here improves air quality, reduces urban heat, captures stormwater, and gives a dense, underserved neighborhood access to healthy green space. The impact per tree in an urban setting like this is significant.
Is a New York City tree gift appropriate as a memorial for someone with ties to NYC?
It’s one of the most fitting tributes you can give. Whether the person you’re honoring was born in New York, lived there for decades, or simply had a deep love for the city, planting a tree in Kissena Park connects their memory to a place and a community in a lasting way. The tribute certificate makes a meaningful keepsake for family members as well.
