Louisville – the home of the Kentucky Derby – is warming faster than other similar cities. The rapid warming is partly caused by a lack of shade trees.

Mature trees help keep cities cool, so a group called Love Louisville Trees is planting maple, red buds, gingko, and other species recommended for residential neighborhoods throughout the city.

Volunteers like Liz Vasquez are taught how to plant a tree, supervise other volunteers, and spread the word to Louisville residents.

Vasquez: “We canvas the neighborhood just as one would think – going with clipboards door-to-door, explaining what we are doing. We call the people who receive the trees “tree-cipients” and they are given literature about the type of tree they have, how to properly care for that tree.”

Vasquez says the “treecipients” are thrilled about the beauty and environmental benefits trees provide.

Vasquez: “Some of the areas that we’ve been in don’t have any trees, and the people are so excited to get trees in their yard.”

So far, volunteers have planted more than 1,500 trees that will shade the streets of Louisville, providing cool relief for years to come.

Reporting credit: ChavoBart Digital Media.
Image graphic: Created by David McCarthy.