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 period. Staff also said new shade was added at 78 schools and more than 130 city employees received formal training related to the plan.

The presentation highlighted six flagship actions. Canopy for Kids planted more than 1,200 trees at 56 school campuses, exceeding a 1,000‑tree milestone; staff said that program was funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars and a grant tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Community Canopy grant planted more than 1,900 trees at more than 1,000 homes and was similarly funded by federal grants, including an urban and community forestry grant through the U.S. Forest Service. The public‑transit department exceeded its goal to add shade at 80 bus stops, installing 81 shelters during the period. The Sombra Project, an Arts and Culture public art competition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, installed nine temporary shade art pieces in parks.

“We consider [the Shade Phoenix plan] to be a public‑health plan,” David Hondulo said, framing the initiative around heat resilience and equity. Staff emphasized that funding for some programs carries grant terms that restrict where money may be used; in response to a question from Councilwoman Hodge Washington, staff said the Community Canopy funding “can be allocated into neighborhoods that are identified as disadvantaged, through a federal government tool called CIGEST, environmental disparities, tool.” Staff said they are open to discussions about expanding eligibility but must remain compliant with grant conditions.

Subcommittee members and staff discussed maintenance, data and program delivery. Staff reported that about 22,000 publicly managed trees had been inventoried as of June and described an ongoing health assessment tied to the tree inventory and a complementary shade‑structure inventory. To improve long‑term outcomes, staff said they are hiring a grant‑funded tree steward program (10 community leaders) in partnership with the Arizona Sustainability Alliance; the contract was signed a few weeks behind schedule and staff said hires and training are planned for the fall.

Councilman Waring pressed on the transit‑shelter design, asking whether new stops use single seats rather than benches and raising concerns that benches can encourage overnight stays. “I’m not trying to be mean to anybody who’s, I guess, seeking shelter, but the bus stops are not shelter,” Councilman Waring said. A public transit representative answered that the new stop design uses individual chairs and not benches at this time.

Public commenters told the subcommittee they remain concerned about parks‑department responsiveness and tree maintenance. Jerry Van Gass, a frequent attendee at parks and environment meetings, said, “It would be really nice to see management from the parks department showing up at some of these meetings.” Tim Sarakowski asked about tree losses after recent storms and questioned whether watering and maintenance failures had caused planted trees to die, asking rhetorically, “How many trees died last year in Phoenix?” Staff acknowledged recent storm‑related tree losses and said the inventory and health assessment will help target maintenance gaps.

Staff described next steps and short‑term priorities: accelerating the five actions that fell short of their year‑one milestones, finalizing an operational maintenance protocol citywide (work underway but pilot enforcement not yet created), completing the full tree and shade inventories, launching sidewalk shade installations this fall and beginning the planting season with community canopy events starting Oct. 4. Staff said they will publish a professionally designed version of the progress report online after incorporating subcommittee feedback.

The subcommittee received the update as an informational item; no new formal action or vote on the plan was taken at the Sept. 17 meeting.