Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation says the number one need they hear from people, aside from beach access, is shade. Community Greening, a South Florida nonprofit, says adequate tree canopy coverage is around the 30 to 40 percent range and virtually every city in Palm Beach County is at least in the 20 percent range and most are lower. The nonprofit has helped plant and give away nearly 30,000 trees across Palm Beach, Broward and parts of Martin County over the past decade.
Neighborhoods that have adequate tree canopy coverage are on average 7 to 10 degrees cooler than the neighborhoods right next to them that don't have that adequate tree canopy coverage, including at nighttime once the sun is out of the way, according to Josh Weiner, director of communications and engagement for Community Greening. Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation recently partnered with Community Greening to plant 1,000 trees at Dyer Park in West Palm Beach. The county has also started installing additional shade structures, including new coverings over bleachers at Sandalfoot Cove Park in Boca Raton.
The Resilient Glades Tree Campaign aimed to revitalize tree canopy coverage in South Bay, Belle Glade, Pahokee and Canal Point by planting 2,000 trees at county parks and hosting eight giveaway events. The project was expected to receive roughly $1 million before funding was cut by the Environmental Protection Agency. Community Greening next tree giveaway is scheduled for September at Halpatiokee Regional Park in Martin County. The nonprofit is also partnering with the city of Boca Raton to plant 100 native shade trees along El Rio Trail in September.