By Y.M. Lowy

Sunset Park is among the Brooklyn neighborhoods getting more trees as NYC Parks marks its biggest tree-planting year in a decade.

The city planted 18,261 trees during Fiscal Year 2026, the most in a single year since 2016. Much of the planting focused on neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme heat, including Sunset Park, Coney Island, East Flatbush, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Flatlands, East New York and Brownsville.

New York City currently has more than 7 million trees across more than 100 species.

The new trees will provide additional shade, improve air quality, help manage stormwater and bring more greenery to city streets. The city has a goal of reaching 30% tree canopy coverage by 2040. 

NYC Parks said it increased planting by preparing earlier, working with nurseries to build up its tree supply and providing newly planted trees with water and mulch throughout the summer.