Trees make a difference.

Tree-shaded parks and green spaces become natural gathering places where neighbors connect and children play. Studies show that neighborhoods with more trees have less crime and stronger friendships between residents.

Trees make our neighborhoods more beautiful with their changing colors, natural shapes, blossoms, and greenery. Streets with trees feel more welcoming, build community, and bring the benefits of nearby nature.

Trees naturally calm traffic by creating a visual “narrowing” effect that makes drivers slow down. Tree-lined streets have fewer accidents and create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

Trees act like natural sound barriers, soaking up and blocking noise from traffic, construction, and city sounds. A thick buffer of trees and shrubs can cut noise levels in half, creating quieter, more peaceful neighborhoods.

Studies have shown that communities that have a large tree canopy percentages have lower crime rates. Neighborhoods with trees encourage neighbors to gather, walk the community, and be present with each other and in community spaces. Trees are just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to community safety.

Being around trees lowers your blood pressure, reduces anxiety, and improves your overall mood. Hospital patients who can see trees from their windows actually heal faster, and just a few minutes in a green space can help you feel calmer and more focused.

Trees filter out air pollution like dust, smog, and exhaust that trigger asthma attacks. Neighborhoods with more tree cover have significantly lower rates of childhood asthma and respiratory illnesses.

People who live in greener neighborhoods have been shown in urban health studies to have lower risks of heart disease and stroke. Cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and more opportunities for physical activity all contribute to healthier hearts and longer lives.

Students who learn and play near trees and natural spaces tend to concentrate better, score higher on tests, and have a greater capacity and opportunity for creativity. Green schoolyards also give kids better places to play, learn, and explore during recess and class time.

Annual savings in residential energy costs. Trees save city residents on ever-increasing energy costs.

Strategically placed trees provide shade that can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50%. Tree cover also cools neighborhoods by lowering ambient temperatues and overall urban temperatures.

Studies of commercial districts have found that customers are willing to travel farther, stay longer, and spend more money in areas with healthy tree cover. Tree-lined streets and business corridors see a huge return on investment.

Trees save cities millions of dollars by doing jobs that would otherwise require expensive infrastructure. They manage stormwater (reducing the need for big drainage systems), cool neighborhoods (lowering public cooling costs), and clean air (reducing healthcare costs).

Urban forestry creates thousands of jobs: arborists who care for trees, landscapers who plant them, nursery workers who grow them, and educators who teach about them. As cities invest in trees, these career opportunities grow.

Surface / stormwater runoff diverted from the sewer system annually.

Atmospheric pollutants removed from the air every year.

Trees are powerful carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in their trunks, branches, and roots. A single mature tree can sequester approximately 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, helping to mitigate climate change.

Trees produce the oxygen we breathe. In fact, one large tree makes enough oxygen for two people for a whole year. At the same time, they remove harmful pollution from the air, capturing dust, smoke, and chemicals on their leaves and bark.

Trees intercept rainfall and reduce stormwater runoff that carries pollutants into our waterways. Their root systems filter contaminants and stabilize soil, preventing erosion and keeping sediment out of rivers and streams.

Trees drop leaves, twigs, and branches that decompose and turn into rich, healthy soil. Their roots break up compacted dirt, create spaces for air and water, and add nutrients back into the ground.

Flowering trees provide nectar and pollen that bees, butterflies, and other pollinators need to survive. Native tree species are especially important because they offer food and habitat that local pollinators have evolved to depend on, helping sustain biodiversity in cities.

Trees serve as essential habitat for birds, squirrels, insects, and countless other species. Native trees especially support local ecosystems by providing food sources, nesting sites, and shelter that wildlife depends on for survival.

Trees cool neighborhoods in two ways: their shade blocks the sun from heating up pavement and buildings, and they release water vapor that cools the air (like natural swamp coolers). More trees mean cooler, safer summers.