Phoenix says grants have planted 2,000+ trees, won $10 million USFS award to continue shade work
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Summary
City of Phoenix staff described three grant programs created over two years to plant trees and build shade at underserved neighborhoods and schools; officials said more than 2,000 trees and nearly 50 shade structures have been installed and the U.S. Forest Service awarded a $10 million urban forestry grant to extend the work for five years.
City staff said the City of Phoenix has planted more than 2,000 trees in neighborhoods and schools and built nearly 50 new shade structures after creating three grant programs to add shade in priority locations.
A City staff member from the City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation said, "Shade is one of the most effective strategies to address one of Arizona's top climate risks, extreme heat." The staff member said the office created three unique grant programs over the past two years to add shade in neighborhoods and at schools.
City staff explained that the programs — the Community Canopy grant, the Canopy for Kids grant program, and the Shade for Students grant program — target underserved neighborhoods and eligible schools. Another City staff member said the event and some program activities were funded by "the code relief funding that the federal government gave cities to distribute to combat the effects of the pandemic." The staff member described the grants' goal as increasing tree equity and providing shade in underserved areas.
Speakers at the event emphasized both the climate and neighborhood benefits. A community member said, "I think that the people that were able to put this together, it's awesome, and they deserve some accolades for doing so." A student who participated in planting said, "I'm really excited to have these new trees ... I love trees and the new shade."
Program details provided during the presentation included cost and scale: city presenters said typical delivered-and-planted trees (two trees plus root-bag or similar planting support, depending on the species) cost roughly $700 to $900 each. City staff said the group was planting about 90 trees that day and that effort added about $40,000 in economic value to the neighborhood. Staff also said the U.S. Forest Service awarded Phoenix a $10,000,000 urban and community forestry grant — described in the presentation as one of the largest in the nation — to enable the tree-planting grants to continue for another five years.
Presenters framed the grants as public-private efforts. The presentation said several Arizona businesses partnered with the grant programs to support planting and shade construction. City staff asked recipients to care for new trees; one presenter said, "Treat these trees well, and the trees will treat you well. And then you'll be giving a gift to somebody 20, 30 years from now as well."
City staff noted that more shade is needed to address Arizona's heat risks and said the city is committed to continuing the work. The presentation did not announce a vote or formal new municipal ordinance; it described program results, funding sources, and the awarded U.S. Forest Service grant.
Less central details provided in the presentation included the multi-year timing (the programs were created "over the past two years") and an itemized count given in the talk (more than 2,000 trees planted, nearly 50 shade structures built). The presentation also referenced collaboration with eligible schools for tree planting and the construction of shade structures through the newer student-focused grants.