Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Planted 240 Trees in Swansboro West
Project Overview
As you look around our neighborhood one thing you notice very quickly is that our neighborhood lacks the large number of trees compared to other neighborhoods in the city. There are a lot of reasons for that fact, including a lack of investment in the Southside for many years. The result of not having as many trees is hotter temperatures (as much as 10 degrees hotter), poorer health (higher rates of asthma) and worse air quality because of more air pollution. While some progress has been made adding trees on a few streets, there are still many with little tree canopy with only about 20% of identified street tree sites (in the space between the curb and sidewalk) being filled throughout our community. Our neighborhood, and most importantly, our kids deserve better.
Working with the Richmond Tree Stewards, the City of Richmond awarded them a Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant to plant 100 new trees in Swansboro West over the next two years. Rather than just starting to plant these trees, it is important to engage with our neighbors to build a sense of ownership and support for these new trees. Not everyone may want a tree in front of their house, so this page intends provide the benefits of urban tree hoping to convince those people of the value and need for trees. Ultimately, if someone does not want a tree, it will moved to another spot. But hopefully everyone will want the trees for their many benefits. Though the trees being planting are relatively large compared to a seedling (1.5” diameter trunk), it will be many years before we will reap the benefits from its canopy so this really is an investment for the generations to come.
This project has been made possible from grant funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act and City of Richmond Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant, and through support of the City of Richmond Office of Sustainability, RVA Urban Forestry Division, and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
Benefits of Trees
Overall Benefits
Increasing the urban tree canopy improves water & air quality, decrease overall temperatures through shade, and provide natural habitat for wildlife. Neighborhood tree plantings encourage safer, more inclusive, and healthier communities. Research links neighborhoods with healthy tree canopies to higher rates of physical and mental health & improved public safety through reduced automobile speed.
Economic Benefits
Trees enhance the beauty of the neighborhood which increases property value. They also shade homes which lowers cooling costs in the summer. On a hot day, a home that is 50% shaded by dense trees uses 14% less energy than one in full sun.
Human Benefits
Spending time around trees can reduce the stress-related hormone cortisol and adrenaline, and lower blood pressure. Leave filter the sir making green spaces healthier places to live. Trees also help cool down hot city surfaces and lower the risk of heat stroke. In one study, areas with tree cover of 5% or higher had an 80% reduction in heat-related ambulance calls. Trees also act as a traffic calmer reducing speed and accidents.
Environmental Benefits
When it rains, tree roots intercept stormwater and reduce soil and nutrients from washing into local waterways. Just one mature tree can intercept 500 to 760 gallons of stormwater per year. Trees also provide a habitat for countless animal and insects throughout the urban environment. These creatures are critical for bio-diversity and having a healthy balanced eco-system.
Project Plan
The Richmond Tree Stewards, in partnership with the Swansboro West Civic Association and Southside ReLeaf, will be planting 100 young trees in approved city street sites between the sidewalk and curb throughout Swansboro West. They will be planting ten trees at a time across the two-year duration of the grant funding. Generally, there will be one planting day scheduled each month except when it is too hot to plant trees. If bad weather cancels one planting day, it will simply be postponed to the following month. The map below shows the proposed locations for the trees with each different color of dot representing a different planting day. There are actually 150 locations identified on the map in case some locations are determined to be unusable for any reason. Some planting locations can only support a small or medium tree due to overhead wires or how narrow the space is between the curb and sidewalk. The right tree must be selected for the right location to avoid issues down the road like buckled sidewalks. That said, there are a number of difference tree species that could work in any given planting site so the person living at that location will be asked for input on the tree selection and every attempt will be made to plant a tree they select.
Each proposed planting site has been surveyed to select the appropriate species for that site. Tree species are based on the proximity to utilities and the width of the tree lawn (space between the sidewalk & the curb). We have selected only native trees species, because natives have evolved in this region and are more resilient to our climate as well as create a more natural habitat for native birds and insects. Each resident will be asked to rank their favorite from at least four different tree species. Every attempt will be made to get their first choice, but availability can change at the time of ordering so a second choice may be used.
Tree Maintenance
The trees we do have in Swansboro West have not always been well-maintained. Low hanging branches or limbs damaged in storms can be a nuisance and even a safety hazard. While tree maintenance issues should be reported through RVA311, you can also let us know about issues at the Civic Association email address, rvaswansborowest@gmail.com. We can make sure the issue gets addressed as quickly as possible. The Richmond Tree Stewards are a wonderful partner in this project and they provide maintenance for many of the trees throughout the city.
The young trees being planted will not need to be pruned for a few years, but they will need to be watered especially during the hot summer months. Fortunately, the Richmond Tree Stewards included two years of watering by Groundworks RVA in the grant request and it was approved by the city. That said, if we have a few particularly hot summer days, it would be wonderful if you could give the newly planted trees a little extra drink of water. If it has a green bag on it (called a gator bag), just fill the bag with water through the hole under the tag. If there is no bag, just let a hose run at the base of the tree for a few minutes to let the water soak in well. You can also refresh the mulch from time-to-time if you like, which will help the water absorb and not just run off, but be careful to keep the mulch away from the trunk of the tree. Piling mulch against the tree, which is called “volcano mulching”, can cause the tree to rot and die after only a couple years.
Project Results
Between January 2024 and May 2026 a total of 240 trees were planted throughout Swansboro West. Over 120 different volunteers came out to the events listed below and gave over 700 hours of their time to help plant the trees. Many of the volunteers came to more than one of the events because of the fun they had doing it. This project would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication.
2023 - 2024 Planting Season
Monday, January 15, 2024 (Martin Luther King Day) - 10:00 am - East 31st Street
Saturday, February 17, 2024 - 10:00 am - East Blake Lane/East 32nd Street
Saturday, March 16, 2024 - 10:00 am - East 33rd Street/East 34th Street
Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 10:00 am - East 35th Street
2024 - 2025 Planting Season
Monday, October 14, 2024 (Indigenous People’s Day) - 10:00 am - McRand Street (meet between 32nd & 33rd)
Saturday, November 16, 2024 - 10:00 am - Lawson Street & East 33rd Street
Saturday, December 21, 2024 - 10:00 am - East 36th Street & McLennan Street
Saturday, January 18, 2025 - 10:00 am - McRand Street & Peyton Avenue
Saturday, February 15, 2025 - 10:00 am - Darden Road & Mardick Road
Saturday, March 15, 2025 - 10:00 am - Peyton Avenue & Mardick Road
2025 - 2026 Planting Season
Monday, January 19, 2026 (Martin Luther King Day) - 10:00 am - Lawson Street & East Broad Rock Road
Saturday, February 21, 2026 - 10:00 am - Location to be Determined
