Strategic tree planting to reduce heat islands

Each year, City Arborists plant between 150 and 200 trees around Beverly, often to replace older trees. 

In November 2020, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), through their Accelerating Climate Resiliency Grant program, awarded a grant of $75,000 to the City of Beverly to plant and maintain seventy new trees in the public right-of-way in priority neighborhoods to reduce the impacts of heat island effects, and to sequester carbon and expand Beverly’s urban forest. Using urban heat island data to identify hotspots, focusing on environmental justice areas and roads most lacking in tree canopy, the City has engaged Bartlett Trees to plant and care for the trees as they establish. 

Depending on the space characteristics of the right-of-way, a blend of small fruit trees (e.g., pear and cherry) and large shade trees (e.g., maple and elm) have been selected to help each one flourish in its new home in Beverly. 

Trees were primarily planted 1) along Sohier Road, next to the High School, Beverly Housing Authority properties, and along bus stops of the MBTA bus route #451, 2) in the Kittredge Crossing and Gloucester Crossing neighborhoods, and 3) by the Beverly Council on Aging. 

Below is an analysis of daytime hotspots in Beverly, using satellite data. Take a closer look using the MAPC Climate-Smart Cities tool: https://web.tplgis.org/boston_climate/ (free account needed).