Dallas launches unique tree planting on Skillman Road medians

Oh it'll be just like a New England forest.

As Dallas enters the heart of winter's tree planting season, the City's Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) will unveil a new tree planting concept. This Signature Tree Project will feature trees that can display beautiful fall colors-a first for Dallas tree plantings.

Although autumn officially ended a few weeks ago, the committee is already looking ahead toward next fall, when it hopes to display Dallas' autumn potential. "We've harnessed the best fall color trees and put them together in a Greatest Hits package," said Michael FitzGerald, Media Team Leader and spokesman for the Committee. "While we can't be Vermont, Dallas can have her own autumn-Texas style."

Generally, good fall color is dependent upon a combination of cool temperatures, decreasing daylight and adequate rainfall. "While we can't promise a colorful autumn each year, we certainly can be prepared when it does," said FitzGerald.

The Skillman Road project, the committee's first showcase concept, has a 3-fold purpose: encourage more autumn style tree plantings to beautify Dallas; encourage neighborhoods to adopt street medians to plant trees; and shade Dallas roadways to combat the urban heat island effect.

The heat effect leaves inner city areas with poor air quality and temperatures 10-12 degrees warmer than outlying areas. The Committee also hopes that by planting trees in medians and shading the concrete, the city will have cleaner air and cooler temperatures in the summertime.

"Our 'Adopt-a-Median' program is an easy way for neighborhoods to shade our city, re-beautify it and reduce the urban heat island effect. We hope many more median plantings will follow," said Kurt Kretsinger, Tree Planting Team Leader for the Committee and manager of the Skillman Project.

The Adopt-A-Median program is a joint effort between UFAC and the City of Dallas Department of Street Services which regulates street medians.

Source: City of Dallas