Remembrance Trees

Centre Region residents are invited to mark a personal milestone with a living reminder by placing a donation for a shade tree to be placed in a local park. 546 Remembrance Trees have been planted in municipal and regional parks since 1994.  Help us "green" our local parks with a Remembrance Tree in honor of a friend, family member, loved one, or beloved pet!  Donors may choose their trees from lists created for each park, and will be notified when the tree(s) are planted. The Remembrance Tree Program is a cooperative effort by Centre Region Parks and Recreation and five Centre Region municipalities, including the Borough of State College, and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton.

Due to the popularity of some parks and the amount of Remembrance Trees already planted, as well as changing master plans for some of our municipal-owned parks, some parks are not available for the 2026 planting season.  At this time, Remembrance Trees will not be planted at Haymarket Park, Holmes-Foster Park, Spring Creek Park, Sunset Park, and Tom Tudek Memorial Park Arboretum. This list is not all-inclusive; please contact our office to inquire about available parks.

We would like to encourage Remembrance Trees to be planted at Ambleside Park, Bernel Road Park, Circleville Park, Graysdale Park, Greenbriar-Saybrook Park, Homestead Park, Marjorie Mae Park, Oak Hall Regional Park, and Whitehall Road Regional Park.

Standard Remembrance Tree 1.5" - 2" caliper

($450 donation per tree)
The donation will be noted in the CRPR Remembrance Tree Roster, located on this website.  An engraved plastic donor tag will be secured to the tree; the longevity of the tag can only be guaranteed for 12 months from the planting date. Please note that certain specialized species, if requested by the donor, may increase the donation amount based on the increased purchase price from the commercial nursery. Trees are guaranteed for one year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree.  Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.

Standard Remembrance Tree
American Beech or Cucumber Magnolia 1.5" - 2" caliper  

($515 donation per tree)

The donation will be noted in the CRPR Remembrance Tree Roster, located on this website. An engraved plastic donor tag will be secured to the tree; the longevity of the tag can only be guaranteed for 12 months from the planting date. Please note that certain specialized species, if requested by the donor, may increase the donation amount based on the increased purchase price from the commercial nursery. Trees are guaranteed for one year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree.  Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.

Arboretum Tree 1.5"-2" caliper with cast bronze plaque

($630 donation per tree)

A permanent, cast bronze plaque is available for Remembrance Tree purchases and is installed beside the Remembrance Tree at the time of planting. The plaque wording is limited on the basis of size and content, must be consistent with other park plaques across the region, and is subject to CRPR approval. Trees are guaranteed for one year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree.  Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.

Arboretum Tree 
American Beech or Cucumber Magnolia 1.5"-2" caliper with cast bronze plaque

($700 donation per tree)
The donation will be noted in the CRPR Remembrance Tree Roster, located on this website. An engraved plastic donor tag will be secured to the tree; the longevity of the tag can only be guaranteed for 12 months from the planting date. Please note that certain specialized species, if requested by the donor, may increase the donation amount based on the increased purchase price from the commercial nursery. Trees are guaranteed for one year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree.  Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.

Trees that are damaged or those that have died and are out of warranty can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree.  If the purchaser is not interested in a replacement tree, the Agency can return the cast bronze plaque, with the purchaser paying the shipping fees. The Agency will host plaques for three years.

Below is a list of tree species for reference only. If you are interested in a tree species that is not on this list, you may make a suggestion to be reviewed by the CRPR Horticulturist. Hemlocks and Ash trees will not be planted due to the threat of pests and disease; Red Maples will no longer be planted to prevent a monoculture of that species. The goal is to increase the diversity of tree species within the Centre Region Parks.  

APPROVED REMEMBRANCE TREES*:
Ruby Red Horsechestnut  *  River Birch  *  Sugar Maple  *  Swamp White Oak  *  Northern Red Oak  *  White Pine  *  Blue Spruce  *  American Beech  *  Tulip Poplar  *  Serviceberry  *  Dogwood  *  Blackgum  *  Redbud  *  Honeylocust  *  Sweetgum  *   London Planetree  *  Crabapple  *  Littleleaf Linden  *  American Hornbeam  *  Hackberry  *  Gingko  *  Kentucky Coffeetree  *  Dawn Redwood  *  Bald Cypress  *  Paperbark Maple  *  Scarlet Oak  *  Okame Cherry  *  Norway Spruce  *  Tree Lilac  *  Weeping Willow  *  Bur Oak  *  Elm (resistant varieties)  *  Catalpa  *  Red Maple  * Cucumber Magnolia

2025/2026 Remembrance Tree Planting Roster

The donation period for 2025 spring plantings closed on December 31, 2024. If purchased after that deadline, your tree will be planted in the spring of 2026. 

Remembrance Tree Donations may be made in person or by phone.  Please mail your donation to: Centre Region Parks & Recreation Authority, 2040 Sandy Drive, Suite A, State College, PA 16803, or contact the Agency at 814-231-3071 to discuss your tree planting questions.

Click for the past Remembrance Tree rosters from 1994 to 2024.  To search this large PDF, use Ctrl+F and type a name into the search bar that will open in the upper right corner.