Auburn Tree Project
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now.
Urban forestry has the potential to sequester carbon, reduce the heat island effect, and make the street more enjoyable to walk along. This could make it more pleasing to walk than drive downtown. Increase in pedestrian street life has a direct link to visitor attraction and business success. The City of Auburn has put thought and effort into urban forestry as a means to revitalize the downtown core, and we want to carry that thought forward into the future.
Sustainably Committee’s Role
Research efforts to date undertaken by the City and advocate for urban forestry as critical part of overall master plan concept for Auburn's urban core.
Benefits of Urban Trees
Nothing we can do will make our cities and towns more attractive -- and provide more social, economic, and environmental benefits -- than planting thousands of large canopy trees.
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Beautification. Trees can complement the architecture or design of buildings or entire neighborhoods.
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Tree-lined streets have a traffic calming effect, traffic moves more slowly and safely.
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Large urban trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates.
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A large mature tree is a free-standing anti-flood reservoir. One hundred trees can capture over 260,000 gallons of rainwater each year.
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Spending time near trees improves physical and mental health by increasing energy level and speed of recovery, while decreasing blood pressure and stress. Tree shade reduces ultraviolet radiation and its associated health problems.
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Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save energy used for heating by 20–50%.
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Real estate and business—Landscaping with trees—in yards, in parks and greenways, along streets, and in shopping centers—can increase property values and commercial benefits.
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Trees provide habitat, food and protection to plants and animals, increasing urban biodiversity.
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World urban population is growing fast. Planting trees today is essential for future generations!
Grow a big canopy
Large canopy trees will grow high enough to shade buildings, streets, and parking lots, cooling the air below. Their large leaf surface area can absorb rainwater, carbon dioxide, and pollutants. They create a high, airy ceiling over our buildings, streets, and parking lots, turning our towns in sanctuaries of green.
Thrive under difficult urban conditions
such as air pollution, dog urine, soil compaction, and general abuse.
Grow Tall
Obviously, if you want a canopy over the street, you need trees that will eventually reach 50 to 85 feet tall, high enough to clear rooflines and cars and trucks.
Requirements of a Street Tree
Attract Pollinators
Low Maintenance
Examples of Street Trees
Many European streets feel like parks because of enormous canopy trees and ubiquitous flower beds. Every errand usually brings a walk or bicycle ride through a linear park, also known as a
street or boulevard.
A growing number of cities and towns across America are turning to Green Infrastructure as a way to reduce their energy and stormwater costs while vastly increasing their quality of life. The problem is not so much money, but awareness.
Photos of Auburn Downtown Area
There used to be more street trees.
The new street tree plan would reinforce the downtown to old town connection. The map to the right shows a summary of the route and the three plans below show the individual tree locations.
Read more about the details of our plan here.
Map of New Street Trees
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