It's no secret that Boston's Chinatown has been notably lacking in greenery, but the local Urban Forestry Division, seemingly always brainstorming, has come up with a solution that sticks out—quite literally. After grappling with challenges unique to the area, such as crowded sidewalks and an underground vein of utilities, the city has decided to think outside, or rather, above the ground. According to a recent announcement by the City of Boston, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics has proposed the innovative use of above-ground planters to introduce trees to the concrete landscape of Chinatown.
Securing funds and figuring out the logistics took some doing, but the Office of Climate Resilience stepped up to directly contribute the necessary cash, acknowledging the planters' role in combating excessive heat. The streets of Chinatown saw the arrival of these tree planters toward the end of this summer. However, the Urban Forestry Division made the unusual decision to split their planting schedule, opting to wait until the cooler mid-fall season to finally put the trees in their new above-ground homes.
The planters have been strategically placed along Harrison Avenue, an area previously bereft of natural shade. Residents were greeted by a total of four planters, spaced between Kneeland Street and Beach Street, with each one cradling a Serviceberry tree. The hope is that these trees will, come springtime, blossom with white flowers, adding a much-needed touch of natural beauty to the neighborhood. According to the city's release, the Urban Forestry Division is committed to maintain and water the trees as they carefully watch over this pilot program’s progress.
The community reaction has been one of pleasant surprise, with many locals quick to offer smiles at the sight of new green additions to their urban backdrop. "As the trees were planted, residents and pedestrians were surprised to see the new installation and many smiles were shared," as mentioned by the city's official website. As for the future, the serviceberry trees are expected to not only provide welcome shade but also to potentially kick off a series of greening initiatives that could see Chinatown's image transform from a concrete jungle to a more tree-friendly environment.
