CanopyBloomington announces fall tree plantings, block party, and film series

Written from press release:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — CanopyBloomington, the city’s urban forestry nonprofit, is expanding its fall programming with neighborhood tree plantings, a community block party, a new book club, and a collaborative film series at Indiana University Cinema.

Now in its fifth year, CanopyBloomington has already planted more than 150 trees across Bloomington in 2025. This fall, the group will host three major neighborhood planting events in Waterman, the Near West Side, and Pigeon Hill. Each event provides free trees to residents, who may request up to three for their yards by Sept. 19. Volunteers will help with the plantings, which wrap up with food, live music, and neighborhood gatherings.

The planting schedule is as follows:

• Oct. 18, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. – Waterman
• Oct. 25, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. – Near West Side
• Nov. 8, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. – Pigeon Hill
• Nov. 15, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. – Alternate/Bad Weather Date

Following the Near West Side planting on Oct. 25, CanopyBloomington and the City of Bloomington’s Sustainability Challenge will host a community block party at Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The celebration will include food from Planted, Pili’s Party Tacos, and Betty’s Hot Dogs, along with live music from Busman’s Holiday and other performers.

To prepare for the season, CanopyBloomington will hold a community potluck at the Banneker Community Center on Aug. 30 at 4 p.m., open to residents and volunteers.

In addition to planting, CanopyBloomington continues to expand its educational role. The organization’s Trees 101 workshops, guided tree walks, and youth programs have reached hundreds of participants in recent years. This fall, Canopy is launching two new initiatives: a community book club exploring themes of nature and environmental justice, and a film series at IU Cinema in collaboration with multiple university and local partners.

The free screenings include My Neighbor Totoro (1988) on Sept. 30 and City of Trees (2015) on Oct. 7. Both will feature introductions and discussions led by local scholars and practitioners.

Founded in 2020, CanopyBloomington is dedicated to growing and managing Bloomington’s urban forest through equitable tree planting, education, and community engagement.

More information about volunteering, requesting trees, or upcoming events is available at canopybloomington.org.

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