Urban Forests Are the Stroads of Urban Environmental Policy

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the balancing act of building density in a place without wasting natural resources like mature trees.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsNovember 27, 2024upzoned, podcast, street trees, stormwater, urban design

The Multitasking Marvel: How Street Trees Can Solve Many Municipal Problems

Street trees are more than just beautiful additions to cities and towns — they also provide many economic and practical benefits, from prolonging the life of road surfaces to lowering energy bills. Here’s why you should invest in some trees.

A Small Win Is Still a Win

When budget season comes around, it can be hard to feel good about policy wins when there are so many other important causes that are also fighting for funding.

Emma Durand-Wood, Top StoryEmma Durand-WoodMarch 21, 2024local government, city government, city council, budget, street trees

There’s More Than One Way To Save a Street Tree

When trees get cut down to make way for new development, it can raise people’s hackles. But here’s why we can embrace both infill development and still care about our urban trees.

So, You Want To Plant Some Trees

Street trees are the only municipal asset that increases in value and capacity over time. Here are some things you should keep in mind for when you’re ready to get out there and start planting!

Emma Durand-Wood, Top StoryEmma Durand-WoodJanuary 11, 2024street trees

An Inconvenient Tree

Given all that trees do, cities should be enthusiastically planting tons of them, everywhere they possibly can. And yet, most places aren’t. What gives?

The Hidden Lessons of Catastrophic Tree Loss

Having a city filled with one type of tree may look pretty, but what happens when pests or pestilence start killing off that particular tree species en masse?

Be More General(ist)

A cautionary tale on rain gardens.

Top StoryKevin KlinkenbergApril 28, 2023street trees, aesthetics, urban design, environment, sidewalks

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Planting Street Trees and Neighborhood Connections

Emma Durand-Wood is a Strong Towns member who is a leader in her neighborhood association and a big advocate for street trees in Winnipeg.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 8, 2022street trees, neighborhood association, success stories, canada, podcast

Street Trees: The Roots of a Strong Town

Street trees provide a lot of pragmatic benefits to a community—and they also serve a social purpose.

Top StorySeairra JonesMarch 29, 2022street trees, community, neighborhoods

There is Unrest in the Urban Forest

“Preserve the trees” or “clear the way for more housing”—which side should you take? (Good news: It’s a false choice, to begin with.)

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 12, 2022street trees, environment, urban design, housing, housing activism, housing policy

Shade in the City

Why do some cities make it so hard to find shade…or create your own?

Top StoryJohn PattisonJuly 2, 2021climate, Heat Islands, street trees, redlining, california, oregon

When "Easy to Maintain" Shouldn't Be the Goal

Cities should take responsibility for getting the factors right that make public spaces lovable and worthy of care.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesApril 1, 2021sidewalks, prosperity, street trees, safe and productive streets, florida

The Antidote to Powerlessness? Try Planting Street Trees.

Discover how this Strong Towns member overcame her feeling of powerless to address an overwhelming struggle in her neighborhood.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 5, 2020Strong Citizenship, community, how to, street trees, slow, innovation

Planting Trees. Growing Community.

The ecological and economic benefits of having street trees are well-known. As one community is discovering, the process of planting trees comes with benefits all its own.

Top StoryMark CassiniOctober 15, 2019street trees, florida

It’s Not Just Parking Minimums That Can Shrink

Many thoughtful urbanists want to #endparkingminimums. We do too. But there’s something else we can address. It’s a relatively small change that can have a big impact…and it could be a good first step to getting rid of parking minimums altogether.

Doug BojackOctober 11, 2019minimum parking requirements, street trees, end parking mandates and subsidies, small towns

Want Ideas to Make Your Town Financially Stronger? Take Your Dog for a Long Walk.

Here are four ways that walking your dog—or a loaner pup from your local rescue group—can give you a unique insight into how your place can get a little more resilient.

Top StoryKea WilsonMay 16, 2019street trees, pets, small bets

New in the Knowledge Base: Understanding Street Trees and the Land Value Tax in Rural Areas

See the latest content in the Strong Towns Knowledge Base.

Top StoryStrong TownsMay 3, 2019rural, street trees

Seeing the Forest Without the Trees

The scale and value of what we’ve sacrificed in order to build parking lots and highways is staggering. Only by understanding that loss can we figure out how to build stronger towns.

Top StoryConnor NielsenJuly 30, 2018history, traditional development pattern, value per acre, street trees