Inspired by a study of Minneapolis’ urban tree canopy, the Longfellow Community Council’s Environment and Transportation Committee is launching a neighborhood tree program.
According to Spencer Agnew, project coordinator at LLC, “Of the four neighborhoods in Greater Longfellow, Longfellow proper has the least tree canopy coverage, at about 30% coverage (although this is still higher than many other neighborhoods). However, all four neighborhoods in Greater Longfellow have opportunities to increase tree canopy coverage. The study identified around 500 specific properties in Greater Longfellow that could achieve energy benefits from new canopy trees.” He did note that the tree data was from 2009, and does not reflect the recent loss of trees in the storm earlier this month.
The program will distribute 500 trees to Longfellow (Cooper, Howe, Hiawatha, and Longfellow) residents. Trees that are being considered for the program include white oak, hackberry, sugar maple, river birch, and white pine. The exact type of trees that will be offered will be finalized in the second phase of the project. Trees will be available next spring and will be provided at no or low cost.
Phase 1 of the project was funded by a mini-grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.
More Information
- Interactive map of Minneapolis’ urban tree canopy provides data on the existing tree canopy and the space available for additional urban tree canopy.
- Sign up to participate in the LCC’s tree program.
- Existing urban tree canopy data for the Longfellow Community:
-Longfellow: 29.72%
-Seward: 34.77%
-Hiawatha: 41.86%
-Howe: 44.03%
-Cooper: 46.08%
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