Tree Quest 2026: Explore Hillsborough County’s Urban Forest—13 Parks, Countless Stories

Tree Quest is back for 2026—now spanning 13 park locations across Hillsborough County! Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or brand new to tree ID, Tree Quest invites you to get outside, discover the trees that define our neighborhoods, and learn how urban forests keep our communities healthy, resilient, and beautiful. Tree Quest is an interactive, family-friendly experience designed by UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Participants visit designated parks and “meet” notable trees via QR-coded stations. Learn more about UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough’s urban forestry work and programs supporting our local canopy.

Tree Quest now stretches across the county—from riverfront corridors to oak hammocks—at 13 different park locations offering diverse landscapes and stories at every stop.

How to Join: Drop into any participating park during the Tree Quest window (January 16^th through February 4^th, 2026). Scan the tagged tree QR codes and complete the prompts.

Why Urban Forests Matter

Florida’s urban forests are more than shade and scenery—they are working green infrastructure that deliver measurable benefits to people and ecosystems.

1) Cleaner Air

Urban trees filter air pollutants like ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and particulate matter (PM). Modeling shows that Florida’s urban forest removes significant quantities of these pollutants each year, reducing respiratory irritants and improving local air quality. In Florida these benefits have been estimated to a reduction of $605 million in health care costs.

2) Cooler Neighborhoods & Energy Savings

Tree canopy reduces urban heat through shade and evapotranspiration, which can lower surface and ambient temperatures. In turn, shaded buildings may require less air conditioning, translating into energy savings for households and businesses.

3) Stormwater Management

Leaves and branches intercept rainfall, and roots enhance infiltration, reducing runoff volume and peak flow during storms. Florida’s urban forest intercepts an anticipated 50 billion gallons of stormwater every year.

4) Carbon Storage & Sequestration

Florida’s urban trees store carbon in woody biomass and sequester CO₂ annually. With an expected CO2 sequestration of 65 million tons per year, which is equivalent to 6.7 billion gallons of gasoline consumed.

5) Community Well-Being

Beyond the numbers, decades of urban forestry research agree: well-managed urban forests provide quality-of-life benefits—from mental health and recreation to neighborhood identity and aesthetics. These benefits, while sometimes harder to monetize, are central to what makes trees in our communities so important.

Keep the Canopy Growing

Tree Quest is part of a larger effort to educate, engage, and empower Hillsborough residents to care for our urban forest. Explore UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough’s resources and programs—classes, publications, and tree grant opportunities—to help your community plant the right tree in the right place.

Sources & Further Reading

Sign up for our Urban Forestry Monthly Newsletter

UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County – Urban Forestry 

UF/IFAS – Florida’s Urban Forest: A Valuation of Benefits (2020): Research summary and methods using USDA Forest Service models to quantify air quality, stormwater, carbon, and energy savings. ResearchGate PDF | Academia.edu overview

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