The city is handing out up to 500 trees to residents this Saturday as part of the 2026 Fall Tree Giveaway.
Curious residents can head to the Bentonville Municipal Complex at 3200 Southwest Municipal Drive between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. The distribution happens regardless of weather, though staff will likely pause the event if high winds or ice create safety hazards.
City staff expect to give away a variety of native and adaptive species, including Downy Serviceberry, American Hornbeam, Redbud, Baldcypress, Northern Red Oak and Tulip Tree.
This effort targets three main goals listed in the city’s official release: increasing the city’s overall tree canopy, promoting a healthier environment and improving the physical appearance of neighborhoods.
There is no advance registration required. Residents must simply show up, though they should be prepared to prove residency.
While the event is technically an open door, the items on hand are limited. Only 500 trees will be available total, and during past giveaways, such as the spring distribution in April, quantities ran out relatively early. It is safe to assume this Saturday will follow the same pattern.
Residents must live inside Bentonville city limits to qualify for a tree. This ensures the investment goes back into the specific tax base funding the program rather than to commuters or people living in the county’s unincorporated areas.
Walking along the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art trails or down the neighborhood streets, you can see how vital the canopy is to NWA’s identity. Trees turn a vacant lot into a home, they soften the sharp edges of the grid layout common in Active Design developments, and they offer that little bit of shade that makes sitting on a porch bearable in July.
If you plan to grab one, bring a pickup or an SUV with a bed high enough to handle a sapling. Parking can be tight at the complex, and hauling a tree in a sedan makes for a stressful Saturday morning.
For complete details on the event hours and species availability, residents can check the City of Bentonville’s official announcement. If you can’t make it, keep an eye out for future spring distributions.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
