PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday to approve a multi-year plan to provide more shade structures, in an effort to cool down a city that continues to experience record-breaking heat waves.
In a unanimous vote, the council approved spending at least $60 million in a series of actions that make up the Shade Phoenix Plan. About half of the plan's investments will be made in the city's low-to moderate-income communities.
The plan will involve planting up to 27,000 new trees and constructing 550 shade structures over the next few years.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said shade can serve as a "lifeline" in the city during hot summer days and the city's "ambitious" plan will provide more shade in needed areas.
City records show Phoenix has a notable disparity in tree coverage among its many neighborhoods.
Areas in west Phoenix and along Interstate 17 have less than 5% in tree canopy coverage. Meanwhile, other Phoenix neighborhoods have canopy cover exceeding 25%.
"Maintaining and expanding publicly available shade, with a focus on where people are most exposed to outdoor heat and where there are high concentrations of vulnerable populations, is critical to our future," city documents state.
Heat experts have said that neighborhoods with more vegetation tend to experience cooler temperatures. Phoenix's new shade plan comes as the region is recovering from a hot season that reported 466 heat-related deaths.
Funding for the shade plan will come from federal and local sources.
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