Exciting changes are taking root in Columbus’ Near East Side. A $50,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) brought together The Ohio State University Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Sustainability and Landscape Services team, Chadwick Arboretum, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the City of Columbus to plant 180 trees at Saunders Park and along Leonard Avenue at Outpatient Care East.
In Spring 2025, the FOD Landscape Services team worked alongside the City of Columbus to plant about 100 trees at Saunders Park and along Leonard Avenue. The work continued into Fall 2025, when the teams returned to the area to plant an additional 80 trees, further expanding canopy coverage and reinforcing the long-term impact of the project.
“Planting trees in phases allowed us to be thoughtful about long-term tree health and placement,” said Stephen Schneider, landscape services planner for FOD. “These trees will provide shade, improve air quality and enhance the neighborhood for years to come.”
The ODNR grant was awarded with a focus on improving the urban canopy in communities that have traditionally experienced lower tree coverage and higher environmental stress.
Throughout the process, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Community Engagement team worked closely with residents to keep the Near East Side community engaged and informed, helping build awareness and shared ownership of the project.
As the newly planted trees take root and grow, they will contribute to a stronger urban canopy, improved environmental conditions, and a more welcoming landscape for patients, visitors, staff, and residents.