Trees in our past and future
It’s been a hot summer, and we're all seeking ways to stay cool and safe -- now and in the future. How can we lower temperatures, mitigate flooding, reduce our utility bills, and enhance the health and beauty of our city?
Trees are the answer.
Trees have always been important in my family.
Every Christmas we bought a live Christmas tree and planted it when the soil warmed up. Fall brought beautiful colors, and lots of raking. We had swings on the backyard Black Oak... and a hammock on the pecan tree. And, at the end of her life, my sister's ashes were placed with the root ball of a Serviceberry tree.
The value of trees goes beyond beauty and recreation. Trees trap carbon, absorb stormwater, create shade, and provide habitat for wildlife. They are a low-cost efficient way to make our city safer, healthier, and more resilient.
That’s why I am so proud of our Urban Forest Master Plan, the culmination of many years of community input which is moving forward thanks to millions of dollars of grants from the federal government.
Our Tree Plan can be summarized in three short phrases:
- More trees
- Better trees (i.e. not Bradford pears)
- Trees planted in the places that need them most
We plan to optimize the tree canopy on City property, using native species of the right size for their surroundings. Equally important, we will train a new generation of urban arborists, because trees require care and maintenance, just like other infrastructure. Many thanks to members of the City of Knoxville Tree Board, Trees Knoxville, KUB, and many other partners for all your work in creating this plan!
To learn more about how we can take positive action for a healthier, more resilient future, I invite you to visit KnoxvilleTreePlan.org and -- for a unique experience including trees! -- an exhibit called Win the Future, that opens on First Friday, Aug. 2, at the Arts and Culture Alliance, 100 S. Gay Street.
Very truly yours,
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