Tree Canopy
Cultivating a greener, healthier Ward 5 by protecting trees, streamlining plantings, empowering stewards, and embedding green space into every project.
Grow the Canopy, Grow the Community
Clean air, cool streets, and a greener Ward 5
Trees do more than beautify a block. They cool our streets, clean our air, reduce flooding, and improve public health. They are essential infrastructure — and yet Somerville’s canopy is shrinking. That loss is not just environmental, it is a threat to our health, our equity, and our quality of life.
As your Councilor, I will work to reverse that trend. I will treat trees as a vital part of our city’s future, not an afterthought in the path of development.
A Plan to Protect and Grow Somerville’s Urban Forest
1. Enforce and Strengthen the Tree Preservation Ordinance
Somerville’s 2019 ordinance protects trees on both public and private land, but it is only as strong as its enforcement. I will make sure every violation is tracked, that fines are increased to deter willful removals, and that developers are required to treat trees as long-term community assets.
2. Simplify and Promote Tree Requests
Too many residents do not know that planting, pruning, and removal can be requested through 311. I will launch a “Root for Trees” outreach campaign — using mailers, social media, and in-person events — to make it easy for every Ward 5 household to care for the canopy on their street.
3. Expand the Tree Steward Program
Our existing volunteer Tree Stewards play a critical role in nurturing young trees. I will secure funding to train more stewards, provide basic supplies like mulch and watering tools, and partner with schools and local nonprofits to adopt high heat blocks in need of care and coverage.
4. Require Green Infrastructure in New Development
Every new development should help grow our tree canopy, not deplete it. I will push for zoning updates that require canopy-friendly design — including shade trees, planting buffers, and micro green spaces — so new buildings come with built-in benefits for the community and climate.
5. Target High Need Areas First
The hottest and least-shaded blocks are often in working class neighborhoods and areas with higher health risks. I will prioritize tree planting and maintenance in those zones first, where the need is greatest and the impact is immediate.
Trees are not decoration. They are protection — against heat, pollution, and disconnection. Let’s build a canopy that covers every block, every family, and every future in Ward 5.
