On Tuesday, June 11, City staff presented a draft of the Shade Phoenix Plan to the Phoenix Mayor and City Council. The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation led the process of writing the Shade Phoenix Plan, which is an update to, and an expansion of, the City’s 2010 Tree and Shade Master Plan. The plan has been written in collaboration with 32 other City departments.

In shaping the goals and visions of the new plan, the City gathered and implemented community feedback from more than 2,000 residents. The new plan envisions a future where all residents and visitors to Phoenix experience the benefits of trees and bui lt shade throughout the city.

The plan outlines the actions the City and its partners will take over the next five years to accelerate the expansion and maintenance of tree s and built shade in Phoenix. There are four broad strategies , including empowering and educating residents on the importance of increased shade , creating new shade , p reser ving and m aintaining existing shade , and evaluating and institutionalizing actions as they are implemented .

The Shade Phoenix Plan is data-driven and uses a detailed analysis of citywide tree and shade coverage across City-owned, public, and private properties to guide the prioritization of shade investments . Across Phoenix Census Tracts, tree canopy coverage varies from 2% to 28% , with nearly double the tree canopy in upper income tracts compared to low-moderate income tracts. The plan includ es a key value to lead with an environmental justice/equity lens, and the actions within the plan reflect this value by prioritizing shade investments in areas with the least shade coverage.

Phoenix proposes i ncreasing built shade and tree canopy at public and private nonprofit schools , City-owned Parks , and properties run by nonprofit organizatio ns that serve youth. Additionally, the plan includes actions to increas e shade on City-owned property with high pedestrian traffic, including the public right-of-way, bus stops , and sidewalks .

Through this plan, the City also demonstrates a co m mitment to maintaining the existing tree and shade inventory through workforce development and process improvement s, and the City will e xplore options for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to reduce potable watering needs for trees and othe r vegetation.

Overall, the plan represents more than $50 million in investments for shade, including f unding from a $10 million Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant from the United States Forest Service , the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) , the General Obligation (GO) Bond and the City’s G eneral Fund and Capital Improvement Project budget .

Staff from relevant departments will now explore opportunities to further improve the Shade Phoenix Plan based on suggestions made at Tuesday ’s City Council meeting and public feedback on the draft plan. The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation i s still soliciting feedback from the public and welcomes comments, reactions, and new ideas from residents. Feedback can be sent by taking the Shade Plan Questionnaire here . A final plan is expected to be p resented this f all .

Green Bond Framework

Check these out!