YES! THERE ARE CITIES THAT WILL PAY FOR THE SIDEWALK

We have all heard the stories of homeowners being held responsible for the sidewalk repair when the city owned tree grows to a point where the roots lift and damage the sidewalk.  Common stories are when the homeowner had to pay for the damage many years ago, and the same tree caused the same problem, and now has to pay again to have the sidewalk repaired. 

MANY CITIES HAVE STANDARD SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAMS  
For standard sidewalk repairs that homeowners are responsible for, some cities offer grants and payment options on your taxes.  Some will do regular assessments and take care of coordinating the repair, while others will give you an option of hiring your own contractor. 

Cities can and should take responsibility for the sidewalk repair caused by a tree that the city planted on the tree lawn.  Contacting your council person might be a good first step to see what you can do to start the conversation within your community.