3 Benefits of Street Trees You May Not Know About

Street trees matter. 

And unfortunately, most people don't realize why until they feel the impact of their absence. 

Here are our top three favorite reasons to gush about street trees: 

1. Safety. Good tree coverage in the area between the sidewalk and a city street (right-of-way) automatically reduces the speed at which cars travel along that road. 

This is something that happens subconsciously so it's a nifty little magic trick to use that eventually results in sidewalks where young children can safely ride their bikes and senior citizens can safely cross an intersection.

2. Economy. Good tree coverage along strategic city streets eventually turn those streets into pedestrian corridors that funnel foot traffic towards the downtown businesses we love. 

In our amazing Crystal City, we spend a lot of time and energy and money investing in our beloved local businesses. We want them to succeed. Street trees are an oft-forgotten part of the equation that results in a stronger local economy.

3. Physical/Emotional Health. Studies show that "...visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension." (Dr. Roger Ulrich, Texas A&M University) 

Humans need trees and we seek them out, even if we prefer an urban environment or we don’t consciously think we care about trees. When there are more trees along a street, you will see more people walking. They will walk more for their health (just to get the exercise) and they will even walk more often for their commute (to their daily needs like work, school, or shopping.) This creates more of a sense of community interaction, as we are more likely to bump into friends and neighbors than we are when in our car. Even saying hi and having a pleasant exchange with a stranger on the sidewalk can boost our sense of connectedness, and therefore our mood.

So as you can see, everyone wins with street trees! 

Here at the Corning Street Tree Project, we really believe that there are no downsides to planting and maintaining a great urban forest. 


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