Federal grant will help Indianapolis plant more trees
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Illustration: Megan Robinson/Axios
It's hot this week, but it feels even hotter if you live in a neighborhood without a solid tree canopy.
Why it matters: Heat islands — where heat is trapped by heat-absorbing surfaces and structures — can make cities less livable and increase the risk of heat-related health complications.
Driving the news: A $12 million federal grant from the U.S. Forest Service will help Indianapolis begin planting more trees this fall to combat the effects of urban heat islands.
- Over the next five years, Indianapolis will partner with nonprofit Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to plant trees in neighborhoods with fewer trees and green space — things that help mitigate the heat island effect.
- The grant will also allow the city to prune its trees to keep them healthy and better weather storms.
Between the lines: Tree canopy cover in Indianapolis neighborhoods varies widely, from just 3% in some to 78% in others.
- Low-income neighborhoods tend to have less tree cover and be more vulnerable to heat islands than wealthier ones, making this a key climate equity issue.
- Heat islands can also lead to higher energy costs due to increased air conditioning use.
Follow the money: The Department of Public Works is expected to focus on pedestrian safety needs in its 2025 budget request, but director Brandon Herget tells Axios the department is still working on other priorities.
- The department has been looking for federal grants to supplement the budget provided by the city, which necessarily competes for resources against other city departments, needs and priorities.