Casey Trees to Give Away 250 Saplings at Anacostia River Festival on May 16

Casey Trees and organizers of the Anacostia River Festival will distribute 250 saplings to festival attendees on Saturday, May 16, in Anacostia Park. The giveaway is part of a coordinated, neighborhood-level push to increase tree cover across Washington, D.C., working with residents, community groups and the National Park Service.

The giveaway will take place during the Anacostia River Festival in the southeast park, where organizers plan programming focused on river stewardship and neighborhood green space. Festival leaders and Casey Trees said the saplings are intended for planting on private property and in community spaces where new trees can take root and expand local canopy coverage.

Partnerships on the ground

The effort brings together a local nonprofit and federal park managers: Casey Trees, which has a long history of tree-planting and community outreach in the city, is working with the festival organizers and the National Park Service to coordinate the distribution and provide advice on planting and care. The collaboration aims to connect residents with concrete tools—young trees and care guidance—so saplings have the best chance to survive and grow.

Neighborhood focus and community outreach

Organizers emphasized that the giveaway is one part of a broader, neighborhood-focused strategy to expand canopy in southeast Washington. The event aims to pair festival attendees with the resources and local partners needed to plant and maintain trees, while also raising awareness about the benefits of urban canopy—shade, stormwater management and neighborhood greening.

Casey Trees has run similar community distributions and planting programs across the District; this appearance at the Anacostia River Festival is intended to reach residents who regularly use the park and live nearby. The saplings will be available while supplies last, and recipients are expected to follow planting guidance to maximize survival rates.

Organizers also note that on-the-ground initiatives like sapling distributions are only one element of longer-term canopy efforts, which require ongoing care, community buy-in and coordination with public agencies that manage street and park trees.

Local volunteers and community groups attending the festival are expected to help with outreach and education around tree care, strengthening ties between residents and stewardship organizations active in the neighborhood.

Watch for how the sapling distribution is received at the festival and whether organizers track follow-up planting and survival rates to measure impact. If turnout is strong, similar neighborhood distributions could be scheduled in the coming months to continue expanding tree cover across the city.