Trees

Cooler Sidewalks

Our 2022 Cool Sidewalks study with American U’s Mike Alonzo and his students was very successful.

Alonzo is taking data from around DC on ground level air temperatures. Temperatures, by time of day, are correlated with surface type (brick, pavement, roadway, white crosswalk paint), sidewalk edges (cement, mulch, grass), shade from buildings and – TREES.

The result can inform urban tree-planting and roadway-infrastructure plans so that ground-level air is cooled and healthier.

Restore Mass Ave was honored to add to Alonzo’s study with student field trips around the Dupont Tree Plaza area and surrounding streets with deep shade (double rows of trees), single rows, scraggly trees, etc.

We are updating the page with results from 2022 and next steps. Meanwhile, the slides tell why it’s important!

Our Local Heat Island

• Update coming soon!