| Trees, especially in dense neighborhoods, give people a sense of place, comfort and beauty. From the grays of winter and the changing greens of spring and summer, to the flaming reds and golds of fall, trees provide majesty and color to the city. In addition, the cooling effect of trees can reduce energy consumption by up to 20% in the summer. Tree and shrub barriers can reduce noise levels by approximately one-half (in the range of 8–12 decibels). Wind speed, a problem in urban plazas, can be reduced by more than 30% by planting rows of trees.
Beautification of the public realm increases community pride and the pleasure of the changing seasons. In addition to trees, flowers are universally appreciated as a source of beauty.
How are we doing?
West Roxbury leads all other Boston neighborhoods in the percentage of land covered by trees. At 40%. Hyde Park is close, with about 38%, and Roxbury has 25% tree cover. On the other hand, North Dorchester has only a little more than 6% tree cover, and East Boston has less than 5%. South Boston ranks last in this category, with only some 2% tree cover.
In addition, since 1994, each year the Boston Parks and Recreation Department plants 100,000 bulbs in Boston, or an equivalent of 200 bulbs per 1,000 persons per year, and about 1,000 street trees annually. A total of 500,000 daffodils have been planted in the city’s parks and squares since 1994.
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Click image to enlarge chart "Trees planted in Boston, 1993-2002"
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