City of Pocatello Invests Nearly $1.8 Million in Urban Forest Improvements Across Idaho Community
Grant-Funded Tree Removal, Replacement Work Underway in Historic Downtown Pocatello
The City of Pocatello is pressing forward with a wide-ranging urban forestry initiative, using more than $1.7 million in grant funding to improve tree health, enhance pedestrian safety, and revitalize the appearance of Historic Downtown and other public spaces throughout Bannock County’s largest city.
Residents across Pocatello will begin to notice changes in the coming weeks as professional crews remove unhealthy trees, replace missing or damaged trees, and address locations where trees have outgrown their space or are creating sidewalk and safety hazards. City officials have emphasized that nearly all trees removed will be replaced as part of a long-term commitment to maintaining and growing the community’s urban forest canopy.
The work is being performed by professional crews that include certified arborists, ensuring the project meets long-term tree health and public safety standards — a responsible approach to stewardship of public green infrastructure that minimizes future maintenance costs for Pocatello taxpayers.
More Than $1.7 Million in Funding Supports Citywide Improvements Through May 2026
The initiative traces its origins to November 2023, when the City of Pocatello was awarded a $1 million Urban Community Forestry Grant. The city has since secured an additional $795,000 in supplemental funding, bringing the total investment to nearly $1.8 million. All work associated with the grant program is expected to be completed by May 2026.
Tree planting has been an ongoing component of the project. In fall 2025, crews planted 209 trees across the city. This spring, approximately 200 additional trees are expected to be planted, including 50 to 60 trees specifically in Historic Downtown Pocatello — a visible investment in one of the community’s most economically important corridors.
Maintenance work has also been substantial. During the 2025 phase of the grant, several hundred trees were pruned and trimmed, with a significant portion of that work concentrated at Mountain View Cemetery. These proactive maintenance efforts are designed to reduce the kind of storm-related damage Pocatello experienced during a significant windstorm in 2024 — damage that can create costly emergency responses and public safety risks.
The project extends well beyond Historic Downtown. Work has taken place, or is planned, at several parks and public locations, including Mountain View Cemetery, Alameda Park, Freckleton Park, Ross Park, Centennial Park, Caldwell Park, and Constitution Park, with additional sites slated for future phases of the initiative.
The urban forestry improvements represent one piece of a broader infrastructure push the City of Pocatello has undertaken in 2026. The city is also moving forward on significant construction along the Portneuf River Bridge, with work beginning in mid-April, and has launched two major road safety improvement projects this spring — signaling a coordinated effort to address multiple layers of Pocatello’s public infrastructure simultaneously.
Supporters of the effort note that leveraging outside grant dollars for community improvements is a fiscally responsible approach that delivers public benefits without placing the full cost burden on local property taxpayers. By securing nearly $1.8 million in external grant funding, the city has been able to undertake a scale of urban forestry work that would otherwise require a direct tax burden on residents and businesses.
Pocatello’s urban canopy plays a practical role in stormwater management, property values, and the overall attractiveness of commercial and residential areas — factors that can directly influence economic activity in Southeast Idaho’s regional hub.
What Comes Next
City of Pocatello crews are expected to continue tree planting through the spring, with the roughly 200 new trees — including those targeted for Historic Downtown — scheduled for installation in the weeks ahead. All grant-associated work is slated for completion by May 2026. Residents can expect to see continued activity at parks, public spaces, and downtown sidewalk corridors as certified arborists and crews work to complete the project on schedule. Additional locations beyond those already announced may also be incorporated before the program concludes.