Phoenix needs it. According to a city survey, a whopping 90% of Phoenix residents feel there is not enough natural or artificial shade throughout the city. Half of respondents called Phoenix’s current shade situation “severely lacking.”
Data from the conservation group American Forests backs that up. While the organization recommends that desert cities have at least 15% tree canopy cover, the median canopy coverage in Phoenix neighborhoods is only 11%. Ample tree coverage can dramatically cool temperatures in the summer heat — according to the city’s plan, a surface may be 130 degrees in direct sunlight but 20 degrees cooler in the shade.
But some communities need the shade more than others. Per American Forests, 78% of Phoenix neighborhoods fall below the recommended 15% threshold. In some neighborhoods, canopy coverage drops as low as 5% to 8%.
Phoenix hasn’t spelled out which areas will get a sudden influx of trees, although the city’s plan defines some parameters. Half of those 27,000 trees will go to low-income communities, while more than 85% will be placed in low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods.
Which neighborhoods need it the most? Phoenix New Times has an educated guess. We used tree coverage data from American Forests’ Maricopa County Tree Equity Score Analyzer as well as information from Climate Central’s Urban Heat Island Index, which shows which areas of town are hotter due to their urban settings.
Here are the five areas that need trees the most. Read more about each below.
Arizona Industrial Park
This southeast area of Phoenix borders Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is home to distribution centers and single-family housing developments. The Salt River also cuts through the area. It has a small population — just more than 500 people — but 66% of them live in poverty.Urban Heat Index: 8.1-8.2 degrees hotter than average
Canopy Cover: 5%-6%
Sun State Business Park
This southwest Phoenix area has several single-family home neighborhoods, distribution centers and service areas. It has a population of nearly 2,000, with 71% of residents living below the poverty line.Urban Heat Index: 8.6 degrees hotter than average
Canopy Cover: 4%-6% covered
Grand Industrial District
This west Phoenix area, which includes Grand Avenue and the Grand Canal cuts, is home to lots of neighborhoods with single-family homes, trailer parks and various retail outlets. It has a population of more than 1,600 people, 63% of whom live in poverty.Urban Heat Index: 8.1-8.6 degrees hotter than average
Canopy Cover: 3%-5% covered
El Molino Place
This east Phoenix area is just north of Sky Harbor. Along the light rail line, it includes the Phoenix Park ’n Swap, a paintball center and single-family homes. Valleywise Health Medical Center and Edison Elementary School also are in this area. Of its population of nearly 1,000 people, 60% live in poverty.Urban Heat Index: 8-10.5 degrees hotter than average
Canopy Cover: 4%-8% covered
Warehouse District
This downtown Phoenix area just south of Chase Field and the Footprint Center includes several neighborhoods with single-family homes, as well as iconic Phoenix eateries The Duce and Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles. The area also hosts the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center.Of its population of nearly 600 people, 71% live in poverty.
Urban Heat Index: 8.1-10 degrees hotter than average
Canopy Cover: 2%-5% covered
