Greener Corridors for NYC
If you are a New York City denizen, you have likely experienced arterial roadway drawbacks firsthand: think about the last time you crossed Atlantic Ave. These wide roadways are dominated by asphalt and vehicles, generating significant noise, heat, and air pollution. Historically, these roadways have divided neighborhoods, displaced communities, and left a legacy of environmental and social inequalities.
In their Greener Corridors initiative, the Municipal Art Society (MAS) recently emphasized the potential of urban greening to transform New York City’s streetscapes. As MAS notes, arterial roads are also some of the most underutilized opportunities for addressing issues like climate change, public health, and urban connectivity. Inspired by this perspective, we can explore how a greener city can address some of the most pressing challenges of our arterial roads.
Expanding the urban tree canopy along these corridors is one way to begin this transformation. Trees play a vital role in improving air quality, reducing urban heat islands, and carbon capture, creating long-term benefits for everyone. By creating walkable, shaded greenways, these corridors turn barriers into vibrant connectors, fostering physical and mental well-being while bridging historical divides. By integrating trees and green infrastructure into urban design, we can redefine these spaces as communal resources that bring us together. Trees don’t just beautify a space, they foster social cohesion and equity, creating spaces where people can gather, connect, and thrive.
The Greener Corridors initiative highlights the importance of reimagining these spaces comprehensively with urban tree canopies playing critical part of street infrastructure. We can reshape how we think about and navigate our cities with trees as the starting point. This isn’t just about including trees in the interstitial spaces and hoping they survive; it’s about ensuring both trees and people have the space they need to thrive—reconnecting communities, mitigating environmental harm, and fostering a more inclusive urban fabric. Transforming arterials into thriving greenways is also about building a future for all New Yorkers that can benefit from the health and resilience the urban forest provides.
Read more about Greener Corridors: https://lnkd.in/eubes7Ms
