Comment 101961

By jason (registered) | Posted June 03, 2014 at 08:39:02

It can't be overstated how important this initiative is through many old Hamilton neighbourhoods. The city's tree canopy stands at around 15-17%. Most cities aim for 35%. Combined with our excessive major roadways (more km per resident than any other Southern Ontario city) and heavy industry, we should be aiming for at LEAST 35% if not 40% (which is where Portland, Oregon is currently aiming). We have km after km of roadway through the lower city with virtually no trees. The effects on health, traffic safety, quality of life, property values, air quality, heat island are all quite remarkable when you see the research in these areas.

Whenever I'm in downtown TO residential neighbourhoods or the Elmwood Ave district in Buffalo I'm in awe of the amazing canopies. We have very few streets with such greenery in Hamilton. Just this year alone I've seen a handful of healthy trees cut down in my neighbourhood to make way for parking pads that won't hold anything but a Smart Car without impeding the sidewalk.

Here is a staggering map we re-published last year. Check out the difference between Hamilton and Toronto. The biggest city in the country full of towers and traffic doesn't come close to the heat island effect in Hamilton:

http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/How_H...

More here: https://www.raisethehammer.org/article/1...

And here: https://www.raisethehammer.org/article/2...

The city should be planting trees on every main street without any, and fast.

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