Green and Cool Somerville project will advance strategies for healthier street trees, safer sidewalks, and stronger infrastructure

A tree may grow in Brooklyn, but a tree canopy is growing in Somerville, thanks to a $187,200 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness state grant to develop new approaches for planting and maintaining trees along the city’s narrow, infrastructure-constrained streets.

The funding will support Green and Cool Somerville: Sustainable Sidewalks and Trees, a planning and design initiative focused on expanding the City’s tree canopy, reducing extreme heat, improving sidewalk accessibility, and limiting conflicts between tree roots and underground infrastructure.

“In Somerville, we ask a lot of every inch of public space. Our sidewalks need to be accessible, our trees need room to grow, and our underground infrastructure needs to work,” said Mayor Jake Wilson. “This grant will help us find solutions that meet those needs together and prepare us to build greener, cooler, and more comfortable streets.”

Somerville has approximately 9,300 trees along 97 miles of streets, but tree canopy covers just 14.6% of the city. More than 80% of Somerville is designated as an urban heat hot spot, while the city’s dense development, narrow sidewalks, and underground utilities leave limited space for new trees to grow.

Through the grant, the City will work with a consultant to evaluate potential planting and sidewalk designs for trees in constrained urban spaces. Strategies may include permeable pavement, expanded or modular tree pits, root barriers, engineered soil, in-street planting, integrated stormwater and tree systems, and vegetation alternatives for locations where trees are not feasible.

“Trees cool our neighborhoods, reduce pollution, and improve public health. Sometimes they also create challenges for sidewalk accessibility. I’m proud that our city is looking for innovative ways to ensure we can have healthy trees and accessible paths,” said At-Large Councilor Jon Link. “Study after study shows how important trees are to living longer, healthier lives. Our communities deserve to share in those benefits.”

The project will produce an assessment report with recommended solutions, identify suitable locations for a future pilot, and develop construction-ready design and bid documents for approximately 100 tree-planting sites. The planning and design work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2027.

Community input will help guide the project. Groundwork Somerville will lead outreach with an emphasis on neighborhoods experiencing greater environmental and climate burdens. Residents will also be invited to participate in two virtual community meetings to share their experiences, review preliminary findings, and provide feedback

“Somerville is one of the most challenging places in the region to plant a tree, but that also gives us an opportunity to develop solutions that could benefit other dense communities,” said Dr. Vanessa Boukili, Senior Urban Forestry & Landscape Planner for the City of Somerville.  “This project will help us better understand what works, where it works, and how we can give trees the space they need without compromising safe, accessible sidewalks.”

Project Background

Additional project partners include the Charles River Watershed Association and Mystic River Watershed Association, which will provide heat-island data and technical input. The City will also seek feedback from the Somerville Office of Immigrant Advancement, Council on Aging, Urban Forestry Committee, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee.

The project builds on preliminary research conducted with students from the Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. That work includes an analysis of tree canopy gaps and planting challenges and a design guide for planting trees in constrained urban spaces.

The grant was awarded through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ inaugural Environment & Climate One Stop program (mass.gov/environment-climate-one-stop). The City will provide an additional $25,400 in matching funds and staff time.