Green Space Initiative

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Promote, plan for, and plant green spaces throughout Chestnut Hill

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GREEN SPACE INITIATIVE
Enhancing Chestnut Hill’s urban village atmosphere, the Green Space Initiative was formed to coordinate the restoration, maintenance and expansion of the commercial, residential, and public green spaces in our community. Funded through events and contributions to the Chestnut Hill Community Association, the Green Space Initiative Fund, and Tree Fund. The Green Space Initiative presently consists of a consortium of residents, business people and representatives from community organizations including the Chestnut Hill Community Association, the Chestnut Hill Business Association, the Business Improvement District, Morris Arboretum, Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders. The inaugural project of the Initiative was the 2016 “re-treeing” of Germantown Avenue. 

Why Plant Trees?
Street trees have great environmental and financial benefits. The Green Space Initiative is continuing the work begun 50 years ago. In the 1960s the Chestnut Hill Community Association planted 50 ginkgo trees along Germantown Avenue. They have grown tall and beautiful, and many still line the Avenue turning a glorious golden hue in autumn. Street trees provide a canopy and setting for a connection to nature and the human senses. They create a more pleasant walking environment, absorb pollutant gases, provide oxygen and cool a hot summer pavement by up to 10 degrees. In addition, businesses on treescaped streets show a 12 percent higher income stream, and realtor-based estimates show street trees increase home or business values by as much as $25,000. 

Request to Plant a Street Tree in Philadelphia 2025


The Importance of Trees in Chestnut Hill: Enhancing Health, Environment, and Livability
 
The Green Space Initiative plays a pivotal role in promoting, planning for, and planting trees and green spaces throughout the neighborhood, enhancing aesthetic appeal and providing residents with a sense of stewardship of their natural surroundings. 

How Chesntut Hill benefits from trees:

• Stormwater Mitigation - Trees act as a natural form of flood control, safeguarding infrastructure, and reducing the risk of damage. Their leaf canopies distribute rainwater over a wider area, while their root systems enhance water absorption into the ground, decreasing stormwater runoff and soil erosion.
  Stormwater to Street Trees: Engineering Urban Forests for Stormwater Management
   
• Cleaner Air - Trees planted through the Green Space Initiative significantly contribute to improving air quality in Chestnut Hill. Through photosynthesis, these trees absorb carbon dioxide and gaseous air pollutants, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Leaves and bark act as natural filters, capturing harmful particulate matter, resulting in cleaner and healthier air for the community.
  Air Pollution Removal by Urban Forests
   
• Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect - Green Space Initiative addresses the urban heat island effect by strategically planting trees throughout the neighborhood. These trees provide shade, blocking solar heat from reaching buildings and heat-retaining surfaces like concrete sidewalks. Additionally, trees contribute to cooling, further reducing temperatures and enhancing comfort in the community.
  Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands
   
• Trees Create Healthy Environments - Research indicates that increasing tree density in urban areas leads to numerous health benefits. By planting more trees, the GreenSpace Initiative aims to reduce stress levels, lower rates of respiratory and heart diseases, and enhance overall well-being and life expectancy among community members.
  Urban trees found to improve mental and general health
   
• Noise Pollution Reduction - Trees in Chestnut Hill to act as natural buffers against noise pollution. Tree planted between homes and streets create a quieter and more serene environment, enhancing the livability of the community, and beautifying the surroundings.
  Can Trees Reduce Noise Pollution in Urban Areas

 
The Green Space Initiative led by The Chestnut Hill Community Association contributes to the beauty, health, and sustainability of the community, ensuring that Chestnut Hill remains a vibrant and livable neighborhood for generations to come.

 JOIN the CHCA or RENEW your MEMBERSHIP

Chestnut Hill's Green Space Initiative is funded through the CHCA's  Green Space Initiative Fund and the Tree Fund
Help us keep Chestnut Hill beautiful and green by donating to the CHCA's Green Space Initiative Fund, which supports Chestnut Hill Green Space Initiatives with greening efforts that include tree plantings. Past projects have included the Upper Water Tower Park landscaping, planting and replacing sick trees along Germantown Ave. and Bethleham Pike.

Click Here to make a tax-free donation: GSI FUND