In a move to foster urban greening efforts, the City of Portland has launched the Trees in the Curb Zone pilot project this month. The initiative is designed to increase Portland’s tree canopy, especially in areas lacking in urban forestry. As reported by the City of Portland, the construction phase will repurpose parking spaces along SE Duke Street from 82nd to 94th avenues, accommodating fifteen new street trees.
“Finding new and creative ways to increase our tree canopy is essential for our city’s resiliency as we experience the impacts of climate change,” Transportation Director Millicent Williams said, as per the City of Portland, acknowledging the pressing need for robust urban forestry. The project, a collaboration between multiple city bureaus, also offers a limited number of yard trees for residential properties on the identified street, a sector known for sparse tree coverage and restricted planting spaces.
The undertaking is supported by the Portland Bureau of Transportation with a “Percent for Green” grant from the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Unlike the common practice where the onus of tree maintenance rests on adjacent property owners, in this case, due to a special agreement, maintenance will be managed by the Urban Forestry Department of Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R). According to the same source, the pilot aligns with broader climate resilience goals and seeks to provide multiple environmental benefits.
PP&R’s Urban Forestry staff is scheduled for tree planting during the favorable fall and winter climate. Meanwhile, Portland’s tree canopy has seen dwindling numbers despite being integral to city aesthetics, providing shade, improved air quality, and climate change mitigation. Some areas of Portland boast up to 70% canopy cover, while others, starkly, have as little as 5%, as detailed by the City of Portland. “Portland Parks & Recreation is proud to lend the expertise of our Urban Forestry staff to this important trial project,” PP&R Director Adena Long detailed, the anticipated benefit being an enhanced quality of life across Portland communities.
