Tree Planting in Allentown PA
The City of Allentown has plans to plant 600 trees by the end of 2027. I am working with the city on a research project to answer the following questions:
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Where are the best locations to plant trees to maximize the health of neighborhoods?
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If people viewed virtual tree planting-scenarios, and provided their input, would it help them support tree planting?
Summary of Work
The City of Allentown has plans to plant 600 trees through their Urban Tree Canopy Master Plan by the end of 2027. The presence of street trees has been linked to improved human health outcomes including pregnancy outcomes, stress, sleep, mental health, heart disease, and all-cause mortality. Tree planting initiatives (TPIs) have been shown to reduce violent crime, noise, air pollution, and provide privacy. However, support for TPIs is not universal among community members.
Colleagues from Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab and Thomas Jefferson University and I and currently working to 1) identify priority areas for tree planting, 2) create virtual tree planting scenarios (locations, type of trees, etc.) that maximize the health of neighborhoods, and 3) see if engaging with tree planting scenarios builds support for tree planting among neighborhood residents.
Allentown Meetings
We are planning a series of community meetings to describe the results of our tree planting simulations. Check back in January 2027 for more details