Phoenix says 7,200 trees planted, $16 million spent in first year of Shade Phoenix plan

Phoenix City staff told the Transportation Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee on Sept. 17 that the Shade Phoenix plan’s first year added more than 7,200 trees, 155 new shade structures and an estimated $16 million in project investment, and that roughly $60 million in funding is committed for the five‑year program through July 2029. Director David Hondulo, director of the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, said the plan is intended as a public‑health initiative to reduce heat risk and address inequities in shade coverage.

The plan matters because shade and trees are central to reducing extreme‑heat exposure across Phoenix, particularly in neighborhoods with lower canopy cover and vulnerable residents. Staff told the subcommittee the first year (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025) fully met or exceeded 31 of 36 year‑one milestones and classified five actions as “making progress.” No actions were placed in the staff category “facing obstacles.”

Staff presented the headline metrics early in the briefing. More than 7,200 trees were planted through city programs last year; after accounting for removals the net tree addition was about 5,500. The city recorded 155 newly installed shade structures and reported roughly $16,000,000 of estimated investment during the reporting…