The plan seeks to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands by preserving and growing the city's tree canopy.
The city of Dallas has adopted "the city's first urban forest master plan, with 14 recommendations for a unified approach to build a resilient and equitable urban forest," reports Marian Rachal in Smart Cities Dive. The plan calls for regulations that "support tree canopy preservation and growth, maximizing investment in urban forest programs and management, and creating a city storm response and recovery plan."
The Texas Trees Foundation, the non-profit that developed the plan, argues that as development in Dallas increases, the city is at higher risk for "heat island effects that affect a significant number of economically and medically vulnerable residents." A recent study on heat islands showed that "Dallas is heating up faster than every other U.S. city except for Phoenix" and could, by 2050, "have 30 to 60 additional days over 100 degrees F per year." Urban forests provide other benefits, too: "higher standardized test scores at middle schools, decreases in violent crimes, improved mental health and even shorter hospital stays for patients with views of trees," increased property values, and reduced energy costs.
The Dallas plan follows other urban forest management initiatives in cities like Los Angeles, which "in 2019 created a city forest officer position with a Southern California urban forestry expert specifically focused on managing the city's urban forest."
FULL STORY: Dallas adopts its first urban forest master plan
Research Shows Urban Trees Stave off Depression
A new study shows that regular exposure to trees and green spaces has a powerful impact on depression and mental health.
In Tucson, Sweltering Heat Threatens the Most Vulnerable
When the temperatures become dangerous in this desert city, not everyone has the option to retreat to air-conditioned spaces to wait it out.
Three Ways Cities Can Combat Extreme Heat
As temperatures rise, there are some relatively simple changes cities can implement to cut cooling costs and deal with spells of extreme heat.
Opinion: Aging Population, Declining Fertility Requires Long-Term Investments
Faced with the dire consequences of a one-two punch of aging populations and declining birthrates, one writer has suggestions for how policy can help ensure a better future.
The Surprising Oil Tax in the Inflation Reduction Act
President Biden has made reducing gas prices paramount in his administration, so it was likely a surprise to hear a Republican senator last Sunday warn TV viewers that a revived and increased oil fee in the climate bill will increase their gas costs.
The Tide Has Turned Against Open Streets
Once a promising development for advocates pushing for a less car-centric future in cities, the open streets movement has ceded significant ground to cars since the height of the pandemic.
Vision Zero Still a Pipe Dream as Road Deaths Continue to Climb
U.S. traffic fatalities hit a twenty-year peak in the first quarter of 2022.
Opinion: Los Angeles Transportation Plan Will Increase Driving
L.A. Metro’s plan to add hundreds of miles of new traffic lanes is projected to increase carbon emissions by 10 million metric tons.
How Extreme Weather Threatens Transit Systems
As weather events become more intense and unpredictable, transit agencies must take steps to protect their aging infrastructure from flooding, storms, and extreme heat.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Cohousing Association of the US
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Crystal River
Sun City Center Community Association, Inc
City of Mesa
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
