Landscape & Beautification

The Landscape and Beautification division of the Recreation Department was established to enhance the natural beauty of Gatlinburg by adding creative landscape designs and flowers throughout the City. The team designs, installs, and maintains the landscaping around City properties, parks, and buildings, as well as in the planters and baskets along public right of ways. There are over 25,000 flowers planted each year with a summer planting and an autumn planting.

Hanging baskets are placed throughout the City in May, providing another element to the natural beauty of Gatlinburg. These baskets are relocated to the Greenhouse facility for the winter in October. At the Greenhouse, staff grows larger tropical plants, which are used on an annual basis. Each Spring, annual flowers are added to these baskets to provide even more color to the baskets. All of these efforts with the Greenhouse and flowers are another element to enhance the visitor experience in Gatlinburg.

Tree City USA Designation

Gatlinburg has held the designation as a Tree City USA since 1989.

Currently there are over 40 cities in Tennessee that hold this distinct recognition. To quality as a Tree City USA community each City must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.

Each City must have a Tree Board or Department, a Tree Care Ordinance, a Community Forestry Program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and hold an Arbor Day Observance Ceremony, which includes a Proclamation issued.

The City of Gatlinburg applies annually to determine if the requirements of the four standards have been met. Each April, the City also holds its annual Arbor Day Observance Ceremony in conjunction with Pi Beta Phi Elementary School and a tree is planted on the school grounds.

For more information regarding the Tree City USA program, please visit arborday.org.

Memorial Tree Program

The City of Gatlinburg's Recreation Department and the Gatlinburg Tree Board administer the Memorial Tree Program, which was organized over two decades ago.

The purpose of the Memorial Tree Program is to allow individuals, families, or organizations to honor or memorialize loved ones.

A $250 donation includes the cost of a tree, a 4" by 6" bronze plaque, year-round maintenance, and guaranteed survival of the tree.

Trees can be located on City-owned property or at one of the three City Parks. Every request will be accommodated as possible. However, the Parks and Recreation Department reserves the right to place the tree at a location that is best suited for the tree. Trees may be ordered at any time throughout the year, however, the trees will be planted in the optimal season. Those who donate will be notified when the tree and plaque are in place.

The current varieties of trees to choose from are Beech, Oak, and Maple, however, these selections are subject to change.

Plaques are set in concrete and are placed at the base of the tree. Included in the $250 donation, the plaque has two lines with a maximum of 26 characters per line of regular type or 21 characters of bold type. Up to three additional lines may be added for a cost of $15 per line.

For more information on the Memorial Tree Program, please call the Gatlinburg Recreation Department at 865-436-4990.