VEGETATION & SHADE

A low amount of vegetative cover–10% of total land cover– a general lack of species diversity, and few designed green spaces exist throughout the site. Large, mature deciduous street trees are the dominant type of vegetation within the project site and most are found along Main Street and the southern half of Cabot Street. The majority of the street trees are in small square tree pits, although some are in elongated pits. Larger tree pits allow more room for trees to grow because tree roots have more available soil volume. On a parcel on Crescent Street owned by Templo Ebenezer, there is a small cluster of trees with an overgrown understory. Race and Spring Street have no street trees. On some of the streets and empty lots there are young, newly planted trees, showing intentional steps taken to increase vegetative cover.

In 2021, the City of Holyoke inventoried the number and type of trees in Holyoke for it's Urban Forest Equity Plan. Within the project site over 40% of the 58 total inventoried street trees are green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). The emerald ash borer, a wood-boring beetle, is a pest of ash trees that has led to the demise of the tree species all over New England. These trees in the project site may need to be replaced if they become infected by the emerald ash borer, which will reduce the already limited tree cover.

Besides street trees, surrounding the gas station, the municipal parking lot, and in other areas of the site are long, mulched-filled beds containing a small selection of evergreen shrubs, and manicured privacy hedges. Vegetation in the empty lots consists of mostly regularly mowed lawn.

PEOPLE & PLANTS

The core client team has shared interests in engaging with neighborhood residents and business owners in discussion about the benefit of trees and other plants as a way of building positive relationships between people and plants and arriving at design interventions that will work for community members.

Vegetation & Shade

As a result of the limited vegetation in the project site, there is a lack of shade throughout the year making the site susceptible to urban heat island effect. Urban heat islands experience hotter temperatures than outlying rural and suburban areas due to lack of vegetation but also other components of densely settled urban environments such as an excess of pavement that absorbs and emits heat from the sun.

The southern half of Soucey Park has no trees, exposing the playground area to intense heat. Hot conditions are present in the frequently visited municipal parking lot which has no shade for people and cars and many of the bus stops lack shade pavilions. Ultimately, consistently hot, sunny areas are less likely to be comfortable spaces for bringing people outside and having events.