About 1,800 new trees will be planted on Akron’s tree lawns (often referred to as devil strips in the city) in 2025 at a cost of $750,000. The native tree species of Northern Red Oak, Serviceberry and Sugar Maple will help increase the city’s tree canopy, which is projected to decrease 4% over the next 15 years.
“Out of all the assets we have here in the city, trees are the only thing that really grow in value, like literally. Everything else depreciates,” said Jeff Fusco, at-large City Council member and vice chair of the city’s tree commission, during the Public Service Committee meeting Monday afternoon where the measure was being discussed.
Residents will receive a flyer in the mail if the city intends to plant in their tree lawn. Anyone with concerns or questions can contact the tree commission.
“We will work with them,” Chris Ludle, the city’s director of public service, told Council Member Linda Omobien, “if they have concerns about the placement of the tree.” The city will avoid planting on top of water and sewer lines, but if residents have a longer lot, the city will try to accommodate requests to place the trees in a different location, Ludle said.
Council Member Sam DeShazior, who said the city only controls about 9% of the trees inside its limits, asked if citizens could eventually ask to have trees planted on private property. Ludle said the city has previously held tree giveaways but does not currently have plans other than the street planting.
The city is planning a nursery that will break ground in the spring, said Jon Malish, the city’s arborist, with the intent of growing street trees and possibly developing a tree giveaway program. The idea, he said during the committee meeting, is to help increase the canopy in the city. He said the only way to successfully grow it will be to plant more trees on private land.
Several years ago, the City of Akron employed one certified arborist who had to oversee and manage every city tree in all 10 wards. Three certified arborists are now working for the city to help manage and maintain tree planting and maintenance. Tree planting this year will be focused in the south and southwest areas of the city, where tree canopy coverage is most limited.
“A healthier urban forest is linked to improved health outcomes for residents — including lower rates of respiratory disease, improved birth outcomes, and other physical and psychological benefits,” Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said in a news release. “Other benefits include reducing the burden of the heat island effect and enhancing a sense of safety and community in neighborhoods.”
The annual benefits Akron received from its tree cover (using 2018 data) are estimated to be approximately $27.3 million, the release stated.
The tree canopy in Akron removed an estimated 1.2 million pounds of pollutants and 70,113 tons of carbon from the air while slowing more than 255 million gallons of stormwater from entering sewer drains.
The city’s 2020 tree canopy report states that Akron’s current urban tree canopy is 34.85%, which overall indicates a healthy urban forest. The canopy in the city is shrinking, though, and is projected to decrease to 30% by 2040. Akron loses about 6,540 trees annually.
Keep Akron Beautiful announced in June that it was launching a program to plant 100,000 trees in the city over the next 10 years. To request a street tree, you can call 311, go online to akronohio.gov/311 or download the free Akron311 app.