Plant your street! A research game exploring tree selection and placement in an urban neighborhood

Abstract

Tree canopy is critical to urban sustainability. At present, enhancing urban tree canopy in many cities is largely dependent upon plantings on residential and park areas. However, challenges surrounding public engagement in tree planting and stewardship remain. This project engaged visitors to public venues in the City of Los Angeles in a ‘plant your street’ research game. Participants (n = 184) used a gameboard depicting a neighborhood to choose from tree species grouped by a selected prominent ecosystem service - fruit bearing, flowering, climate adaptive, and carbon capture. Of particular interest were: (1) comparisons of selected tree types and species, (2) placement across neighborhood areas, and (3) the influence of messages emphasizing an ecosystem service on selections and placements. Certain tree types and species were selected overall, and, within different neighborhood areas, including one’s home lot, neighboring lots and a city park; for example, the majority of trees planted on the home lot were in the relatively understudied backyard. Themes underlying these decisions were: ‘perceived tree services’, ‘self-versus other,’ and ‘geography and personal connection.’ Findings provide an improved understanding of urban tree planting preferences and may help inform neighborhood and residential tree planting programs.