The International Community Trail: Street Trees

By Joanne McEntire, Trail Project Planner, J. McEntire llc

New street trees are a joy to behold! You’ll find them on Martin Luther King Blvd. between University and I-25, indicating its recent road diet. ACHIEVE recommends that trees are planted between sidewalks and curbs on the International Community Trail.

Trees offer shade and beauty and a traffic calming influence. I visited the three Trail sites with trees with Nick Kuhn, the City Forester. We started at Talin, where Sycamores are planted on Louisiana. The wide sidewalks with pavement design, planters, sculpture, and tile work create one of the best public spaces in the district.

When the UNM Health Clinic on Central and Texas was designed, the U included wide sidewalks with tree buffers and fully accessible entrances to the site. The Box Elders on Central are set in a large basin that catches some run-off from the sidewalks, which is helpful in harsh conditions.

The third site on the Trail is the driveway into Phil Chacon Park (or Kathryn), on the south side of Van Buren Middle School, where some trees were planted by a level, wide sidewalk.

We also visited the Wilson School Pool Park, where the sidewalk on Anderson is right against the curb. We imagined a basin of trees planted by the curb with a sidewalk meandering into the park, perhaps to accompany future pool and playground improvements that Councilor Garduño has recommended. The young Texas Oaks that were recently planted in the park had glowing leaves this autumn. Wilson and NACA students walk by the park, and Anderson and Cardenas would be much nicer with tree treatments.

Street trees are possible along the International District Trail if the city and neighbors make room for them. The city engineer might approve road diets on Trail streets, or property owners could provide space for them, as the UNM Clinic did.

Street trees have to be tough and resilient! Property owners should care for street trees so they can nurture the community for decades. Visit www.abqtrees.com for suggested trees, tree care information and funding opportunities. Send a note to jomcen@msn.com to obtain a list of small grant opportunities.  Envision a shaded Trail!