Westown Amended neighbors came together earlier this year to celebrate a Community Canopy grant sponsored by the Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation – and to help plant dozens of trees across their neighborhood (submitted photo).
Whether it is planting trees for shade and beautification or tackling issues with broader implications, the success of any neighborhood association begins with neighbors getting to know one another. From there, the work begins.
In the Westown Amended Neighborhood, bounded by Pierson Street south to Campbell Avenue and 19th to 17th Avenue, neighbors gathered in January to plant 68 trees that their neighborhood association obtained through the city of Phoenix Community Canopy grant – a program sponsored by the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.
The association’s mission is to “open communication to build community, educate residents and increase pride of residency,” and throughout the grant process, longtime Westown resident Laura Harper put that mission into action. She served as the tree grant coordinator and from city and neighborhood meetings to posting flyers and coordinating the various planting schedules to organizing a Jan. 17 celebration, she and other neighborhood volunteers spent months on the project.
“We would not even have received these trees if it weren’t for [Laura and her mother],” said Jennifer Flores, another neighborhood volunteer. “I’m so grateful for them.”
She added, “For 16 years, we have been proud to call this neighborhood home. We originally fell in love with the undeniable mid-century Phoenix charm, the convenient commute, and the incredibly welcoming, community-oriented neighbors – some of whom have lived on these streets since the 1970s. We were instantly drawn to our house because it still had its beautiful, original built-in cabinets and the classic architectural details that define a 1950s Ralph Staggs Holiday Home.
“For us, participating in the tree canopy grant program is about preserving that rich history and making our streets more livable. Over the years, the urban heat island effect has claimed several of our established trees. By planting new, heat-tolerant shade, we can replace what was lost, ensuring our historic neighborhood remains welcoming and walkable even during those critical summer months.”
Many of the neighbors agree, including Adam E. and Albert G., who expressed their pride to live in a forward-thinking neighborhood that truly cares, “We appreciate the city’s efforts to think ahead when it comes to heat mitigation, especially when our neighborhood is an urban heat island. We’re excited to see how these trees grow, transform the community and complement the recently installed cool pavement.”
Another homeowner, Anna Aviles, was grateful to the city of Phoenix for the tree grant award, “Not only will it help reduce heat and provide much-needed shade, but it has also brought our community together,” she said. “It’s given us the chance to connect, appreciate our beautiful surroundings and build stronger relationships with one another. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 25 years, and now more than ever, it has never looked more beautiful.”
Harper said that the enthusiastic support and the opportunity to get to know her neighbors better was a welcome result of the program.
“A lot of the neighbors I know, some of the neighbors who came to the tree celebration I had never met before, so that was nice. And when we drive through the neighborhood now it’s, ‘look, they’ve got two trees and that one has a tree in their yard.’ It feels really good.”
For the remainder of the year, association leaders will work to get more people involved as they address other neighborhood challenges. Westown residents can get involved by contacting leadership at westownamended@gmail.com.
“Small steps can make big changes,” Harper added. “If we can keep half the trees alive, then in a couple of years the neighborhood will have at least 30 to 40 new trees growing. It’s not a huge neighborhood, but it will make a difference. And if every small neighborhood could make small changes, then it can become a big change.”
But it all begins with stepping outside of your house and getting to know your neighbors. Residents who would like to find an existing neighborhood association in their area – or create one – can start with the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department. Learn more online at www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/nsd/get-involved.html.
