Most of the photos of great streets seen on these pages feature street trees. Trees are among the most important – and overlooked – features of urban streets. Visual preference surveys routinely reveal that citizens greatly prefer streets that feature mature canopy trees and other vegetation to streets that do not.
Benefits of Street Trees Include:
Reduced heat absorption. Paved streets and urban parking lots can increase localized ambient urban temperatures by 3 - 7 degrees, significantly impacting energy consumption and energy costs for homeowners, business owners and consumers.
Households in well-shaded neighborhoods with urban street trees can experience energy savings of 15 - 35%.
Property values. The attractiveness, heightened identity and placemaking effects of mature, well-placed street trees combine to add value to abutting properties.
In some cases, the added property tax proceeds from increased valuations may recoup much of the cost of installing and maintaining the trees.
Reduced storm water run off. Street trees can significantly reduce the percentage of rain water that reaches the ground below them. The actual percentage is greater for light rains and is highest during the early stages of extended rain events.
While this may not reduce the size of required street drainage systems, it does reduce the total amount of storm water delivered into street drainage systems over the course of a typical growing season.
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