Our Town Needs More Street Trees
1Walk down Center Street on a summer afternoon, and you will feel the sun beating down on the bare sidewalk. Only a few small trees grow along the whole street. I believe our town should plant many more trees along its streets. Trees do important jobs for people and for animals, and they are worth the cost.
2First, trees keep our streets and homes cooler. Their leaves block sunlight, so the ground beneath them stays shaded. On a hot day, a shaded sidewalk can feel much cooler than one in full sun. Trees also give off water through tiny openings in their leaves. As that water dries into the air, it cools the air around the tree, much like sweat cools your skin. Shade from trees can even keep nearby houses cooler, so families may not need to run fans or air conditioners as often.
3Think about what happens during a heavy rainstorm. Street trees also help our town handle rainwater. Leaves and branches catch some of the raindrops and slow them down before they reach the ground. Tree roots loosen the soil, which helps it soak up more water. On a street with no trees, rain pours off the pavement and rushes into storm drains. During big storms, those drains can fill up, and water can flood the street.
4Trees also give homes and food to many animals. Birds build nests high in the branches, where they are harder for cats to reach. Squirrels gather seeds and nuts from trees. Caterpillars and other insects munch on leaves, and those insects then become food for birds. More trees on our streets would mean more wildlife for everyone to enjoy.
5Some people say that new trees cost too much money and that fallen leaves make a mess. It is true that planting trees costs money, and fallen leaves must be cleaned up each fall. However, trees can also help a town save money. Cooler homes need less energy, and fewer floods mean fewer streets and basements to repair. A young tree planted today can keep doing these jobs for many years.
6Our town has a choice. We can keep our bare, hot streets, or we can plant trees that cool the air, soak up rain and shelter wildlife. I hope the town council will plant more trees this spring. Our streets, our families and our animal neighbors will all be better for it.