• Memorial Tree Sponsorship Brochure

• Boulevard Tree Planting Permit and Reimbursement Form 

• City of Yankton - Tree Ordinance

• Boulevard Tree Planting and Maintenance Guide

• Boulevard Tree Selection Guide

• Tree Planting Guide

• Tree Pruning Guide 

• City of Yankton Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Plan- updated 10-14-2025 

• March 2019 EAB update by Dr. John Ball, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist & South Dakota Department of Agriculture Forest Health Specialist

• Emerald Ash Borer Information Page - South Dakota Department of Agriculture

• Emerald Ash Borer Information - University of Nebraska

• Selecting Trees for Emerald Ash Borer Treatments - University of Nebraska 

• Yankton Makes Plans for Emerald Ash Borer- June 8, 2018, Press & Dakotan newspaper article.  

• State of South Dakota information regarding forestry in the state

Do you have questions about the trees on your property which are in the public right-of-way (area between the sidewalk and the curb of the street)?

If so, please contact:

Lisa Kortan, Urban Forest Specialist

1900 Ferdig Ave

PO Box 176

Yankton, SD 57078-0176

(605) 668-5231

Tree City USA since 1984! 

 The City of Yankton’s Urban Forestry efforts have been recognized by the Tree City USA program and its sponsors, the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, every year since 1984.

Yankton annually meets the four standards to become a Tree City USA community:

1. have a tree board or department,
2. have a tree-care ordinance,
3. have a comprehensive community forestry program,
4. and have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Yankton not only earns the Tree City USA recognition but realizes that trees:

• Promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.
• Moderate climate, conserve water, and provide vital habitat for wildlife.
• Reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.
• Reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water.
• Increase property values.
• Reduce energy use for heating and cooling buildings.
• Add beauty to home lots, commercial properties, parks, boulevards, and neighborhoods.

The City of Yankton's Arboretum is located on the Summit Activities Center/Yankton High School property at 1801 Summit Street.

The arboretum, which has 92 different types of trees with informational plaques for each, can be found along the perimeter path on the south side of the property. There is an open-air shelter along the path.

Click here for a list of all trees that can be found at the arboretum.

If you have walked through the arboretum, and found a species of tree you really like, to find out more about the tree, please click on this link.  Then, use the "Search Species" box on the upper right side of the Plants (Kingdom Plantae) page and type in the name of the tree that you've identified in the arboretum (example: type in "burr oak").  The website will return to you all the information you would need about the tree you are interested in.