Rooted in History: Discovering Cleveland Heights’ Heritage Trees

Saturday, October 17, 2026
10:30 A.M. – Cleveland Heights Community Center (1 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights)

The Landmark Commission invites you to discover Cleveland Heights’ heritage trees, our local living monuments to the natural past. A new countywide Heritage Tree Initiative will soon be accepting nominations. Cleveland Heights must contribute. We challenge you to find our oldest and most distinctive trees!

For Rooted in History, Dr. Roy Larick will present well-known local heritage trees, announce the challenge results, and lead us on a Moses Cleaveland Tree walk.

Schedule Overview:

• 10:30-11:00am
  Beginning with a light breakfast featuring local tree products
• 11:00-11:45am
  Roy Larick on Heritage Trees and announcement of challenge winners
• 12:00-1:00pm
  Walking tour of Forest Hill Park’s oldest trees

 Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooted-in-history-discovering-cleveland-heights-heritage-trees-tickets-1996507830666

Would you like to nominate a historic and distinctive tree? 

Cleveland Heights Heritage Tree Challenge Instructions 

The Landmark Commission is looking for the city’s Heritage Trees.

The Challenge: find the largest, most distinctive examples of common native species (e.g., oaks, maples, elm, tulip tree) and fine examples of rarer natives (e.g., black gum, cucumber magnolia, sycamore). Candidates must stand within the Cleveland Heights city limits. Trees visible from a public way are preferred. Ask for permission before visiting a tree on private property.

Heritage Tree entry information 

Location: street address and/or geographic description
Setting: park, tree lawn, front yard, backyard, side yard, etc.
Species: the common name is acceptable; use a leaf app if in doubt Circumference: measured 4.5 ft above ground
Significance: sentence or two on the tree’s neighborhood presence

Photographs: 

• whole tree, preferably in relation to the nearest public way
• close-up of root flare & lower trunk, preferably up to lowest branches (a human figure can provide scale for a big tree—focus on the tree)
• close-up of one or a few leaves for species confirmation

Submit entries to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPC1pD1CNiu36430ctHfzwhBCjxGtVxF0UeD_7TUKcEdfDVg/viewform?usp=header  by October 1, 2026.

The 6-12 winners (most significant specimens) will be announced on October 17th at the Rooted in History event. The contributors will receive a $25 gift card to a local business and a certificate from the city. In 2027, a new Cuyahoga Heritage Tree initiative will continue the Moses Cleaveland Tree designations of 1946-1986. The top Cleveland Heights Heritage Trees will be nominated to the new program.