Urban Canopy Maps

Oct 23, 2022

Census Tract, City Trees, Community, Maps, Neighborhoods, Reports, Tree Equity, Urban Canopy

*Sankey diagrams are used to depict a flow from one set of values to another.*

The things being connected are called nodes and the connections are called links. The process and patterns are highlighted through streams, while the end goal may never be achieved.

*Little Village neighborhood tree canopy captured via satellite by the Morton Arboretum*

When I first realized I was part of the northeast end of Little Village, I had always assumed my home was within the boundaries of West Pilsen, Marshall Square, South Douglass Park, or even West of Chinatown on Cermak. Recently, I feel like I’m somewhere in the invisible lines of where North Lawndale and Little Village meet. Note that this map is marked with McKinley which to me has always been the neighborhood park next to where I live, east of the Heart of Italy, towards Bridgeport, but not that far. According to this urban canopy map, courtesy of the Morton Arboretum, Little Village is defined within the boundaries shown above.

*Tree planting with Openlands and the La Villita Park community*

Together, we were able to plant 49 new trees along Sacramento Ave and throughout the neighborhood around La Villita Park. The species of trees that were planted included Musclewood, American Elm, American Linden, Honeylocust, Northern Catalpa, Sweetgum, Bur Oak, Chinquapin Oak and Swamp White Oak.

These are all species native to Illinois that are well adapted to our local climate and will increase the resiliency of their new neighborhood in the face of climate change. As they mature, the value of their benefits will increase as they cool our city, reduce flooding, protect our water resources and improve the air quality of the surrounding area.

In total, 60 people showed up to provide 240 volunteer hours of dedicated labor. Mi Villita Neighbors and the Southwest Collective also partnered with Openlands on this project. Their collective vision for planting trees between La Villita Park and the Department of Corrections is how this process began. The Lawndale Little Village TreeKeepers chapter also assisted in canvassing the surrounding area for individual tree adopters in front of neighborhood homes. Additionally, this collective effort involved working with the Cook County Department of Facilities Management and the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.