Everyone loves trees — so why do so many cities in the Kansas City metro area continue to cut them down?
Despite decades of ordinances and pledges to protect them, trees are frequently removed for new buildings, wider roads, power lines, and city maintenance. The new Kansas City PBS documentary, The Politics of Trees, explores the contradictions at the heart of Kansas City’s relationship with its tree canopy.
This premiere screening of the 30-minute documentary is followed by a conversation with Kansas City PBS host Nick Haines, filmmaker Michael Price, and expert guests.
Through intimate storytelling, data-driven reporting, and vivid scenes from neighborhoods fighting to keep their shade, The Politics of Trees examines how something so seemingly apolitical can become such a divisive flashpoint.
The film also highlights how communities and developers are rethinking the role of trees. Instead of treating them as an afterthought, they now view trees as essential infrastructure that can lower utility bills, filter stormwater, and improve both physical and mental health.
The Politics of Trees airs on Kansas City PBS on Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m.
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'The Politics of Trees'
