Lina Velasco, Senior Planner
(510) 620-6841

In 2011, the City of Richmond received a Strategic Growth Council Urban Greening Planning Grant to develop a citywide Urban Greening Master Plan. This plan will serve as the master document to guide and coordinate greening projects within the City. As a part of the project, the City will develop a tree inventory of existing trees, and identify opportunities to expand and enhance green spaces in the City. The plan will include an updated Urban Forest Management Plan and new planting standards.

We are off to a great start in 2013! The preliminary city street tree inventory has been completed, and the data has produced some interesting facts about Richmond's urban forest:

• The City of Richmond owns more than 18,000 street trees (not including un-incorporated county areas with Richmond addresses;
• Richmond's tree canopy intercepts nearly 9,000,000 gallons of rainfall annually; and
• Our air is cleaner thanks to our trees - the urban forest currently captures almost 13,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

The next phase of the Urban Greening Master Plan is now underway. We are performing a final tree inventory that will allow us to update and refine the preliminary tree data so we can better direct the city on its green path. Please refer to the Tree Inventory Progress Map if you are interested in tracking the field crew's work on the tree inventory thus far. We expect the field work to conclude in June 2013.

Marina Bay Neighborhood Council Meeting

On May 8, 2012, Vallier Design Associates will be speaking at the Marina Bay Neighborhood Council meeting to update community members on the progress of the Urba Greening Master Plan and inform them on how they can include their community in the greening process. If your neighborhood council would like to host a similar presentation, please contact Jocelyn Rohan at Vallier Design Associates at (510) 237-7745.

Related Materials:

• 10-20-30 Rule for Street Tree Planting
• How You Can Help Maintain the Urban Forest
• Tree Inventory Progress Map

Community Kick-off for the Richmond Urban Greening Master Plan Project

On March 17, 2012, the City’s Planning and Parks and Landscaping Divisions will be hosting the Urban Greening Master Plan Project Kick-off at the Richmond Recreation Complex Social Hall located at 3230 Macdonald Avenue, from 9 AM to 12 PM.  Participants will learn about urban greening and its benefits. There will also be a planting demonstration and an opportunity to participate in the first phase of the urban forest inventory process.

Related Materials:

• Event Flyer
• Fact Sheet
• Presentation