Trees make cities beautiful
Our society has created boundaries between urban and green spaces.
If someone in a town wants to experience nature, they need to drive to a park or go for a hike. But why can’t nature be a part of our daily lives? By implementing new urban-planning strategies that are focused on incorporating trees into our cities, we will all see numerous benefits.
Besides the obvious ecological impacts of more trees, there are also numerous economic and aesthetic benefits as well, which would help to make our towns more appealing and more enjoyable.
Melding nature and city life doesn’t just mean creating more parks within city limits, even though this is also a valuable strategy. Simply planting more trees along streets, within the small islands in parking lots, and in place of above-ground power lines could yield many practical benefits. For one, trees increase the beauty of a city, and moving power lines underground to create space for trees would create a more picturesque city.
After more trees are planted, a canopy would be created that would protect buildings from direct sunlight, which will cut cooling costs. Such shade would also prevent asphalt and concrete from superheating, which would eliminate the possibility of “urban heat islands” that are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the absorption of heat by manmade surfaces and structures.
Planting more trees is a no-brainer. Although the initial costs required to make space for them must be considered, that money will be recouped in the long run thanks to the benefits that trees can provide us. Trees make our cities more beautiful, our homes and sidewalks cooler, and our citizens happier. All they require in return is a chance to grow.
Keighley Harr
Canonsburg