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Grouchy-Estimate-756 t1_jd5pw28 wrote

Reply to comment by fadedrosebud in We need urban food forests in Pittsburgh by fadedrosebud

I'm totally down for food forests, edible stuff growing everywhere but I'm not sure we need more shade, here. We're not exactly in danger of desertification. I think the temperature difference is a poor argument for this area. Stick to the better selling points, like fruit, food and general air quality.

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Jazzlike_Breadfruit9 t1_jd6yxj2 wrote

On a super hot day this summer, go to The Strip that lacks lots of trees and vegetation. Then go to Allegheny Cemetery and feel the temperature difference. It is staggering.

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fadedrosebud OP t1_jd9ho8v wrote

Exactly! Maybe our hot weather doesn't compare to Tuscon's but it still gets uncomfortable and causes heavy energy use for air conditioning. Look at neighborhoods like Squirrel Hill or Point Breeze for example where almost every residential street has long-established shade trees. Then look at Morningside which is also a generally pleasant neighborhood but has a sparse tree canopy making it feel not as nice.

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Grouchy-Estimate-756 t1_jd8idax wrote

I hear you. I moved here from Texas, where we had months of temperatures that only happen for a week at best, in Pittsburgh. I'm also not out in shorts in 40 degree weather so my take on it is really pretty subjective.

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covertchipmunk t1_jd8fukv wrote

Tree Pittsburgh has a map showing tree cover in the various neighborhoods. I think there's a newer map but this page has info from 2012. The "2012 State of the Urban Forest" has a lot of the data on tree cover in various neighborhoods.

2012 Tree Pgh urban forest master plan

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Grouchy-Estimate-756 t1_jd8it2e wrote

To be clear, I'm a huge fan of all the trees here, and we should definitely plant more. I'm just not personally moved by the issue of it being too hot in the summer.

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