Trees are critical to quality of life, health

Thanks to Cedar Rapids for increasing its budget for trees! We appreciate the long-term view taken by the City Council, Mayor Ron Corbett, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz and the Departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation to ensure that we have beautiful, shaded neighborhoods and tree-lined streets (“Growth opportunities,” July 18).

By investing in trees, Cedar Rapids has taken steps to improve air quality and energy savings and increase real estate values. One tree can save a homeowner 20 percent on annual cooling bills and catch 77,000 gallons of rainwater. Street trees alone in Cedar Rapids are saving $1.5 million in energy costs!

The unique thing about trees is that they produce benefits exponentially year after year. To get them to maturity, they need intensive care, especially in the first three years. Cedar Rapids leadership has recognized the need to partner and leverage resources, and Trees Forever has worked directly with the city to help train and organize volunteers, along with planting trees with support from Alliant Energy and others.

As Councilwoman Monica Vernon pointed out in the recent Gazette article, “We are caretakers of all the infrastructure, and I don't think we always talk about the green infrastructure.” Thank you for making the point that green infrastructure is critical to our quality of life and health. Thank you, Cedar Rapids leadership, for investing in trees that will benefit all of us today and for many generations to come!

Shannon Ramsay

Founding President,

Trees Forever

Marion