Arbor Issue: Sidewalks
Why Worry About Sidewalks?No matter how you feel about having sidewalks in your neighborhood, if sidewalks are being replaced or newly installed they should include proper tree space design to allow for a greater number of and better placed trees. As we noted in our Tree Space Design Report, a tree’s ability to grow and stay healthy is largely dependent on available rooting space, and the bigger the tree’s crown is, the greater the area of soil volume it needs for rooting. Trees with a lack of adequate rooting area are more likely to die, decline, or cause damage to sidewalks or curbs. This problem can be mitigated by improved Tree Space Design that can take a number of forms, with the simplest being widening the Tree Space close to the tree. On June 12, 2009, Mayor Adrian Fentry announced the launch of the District Sidewalk Stimulus Program. Nearly $4 million in federal stimulus funds will be available to the District for 200 miles of new sidewalk construction starting this summer. The District does a great deal to care for its trees; however, standards are often implemented in an inconsistent way. The below picture shows four trees on the same block, right next to each other. Each has a different Tree Space configuration.
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Recommendations:Casey Trees advocates for:
Implementation of these standards will result in improved tree space design, healthier trees, reduced impervious surface coverage, and reduced sidewalk maintenance due to the decrease in sidewalk area.
Figure 1 - Tree Space adjacent to small scale tree
Figure 2 - Tree Space adjacent to large scale tree
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