Tree Planting Along Houston's Freeways

[Dopo]

I never thought I would see somebody complaining about "too many trees in Houston"
Have you been in Houston during summer?

[vwgto]

The Woodlands is a perfect example of using tree buffers to hide ugly over development - - and it works incredibly well.

[airdrawndagger]

Originally Posted by jerry price

A no vote on the trees along the Houston freeways does not have to be based on how they look. My no vote is due to concern for the future after these trees have grown large and we get another direct hit from a hurricane. There will potentially be thousands of trees down across the feeders and freeways impeding emergency vehicles and residents at a crucial time for access and egress. It will delay the time required to get the city back to normal.

Never thought about this... good point. Planting trees in the vicinity of major highways is one of those things that SEEMS like a good idea, but may have several unintended consequences.

Actually I'm quite partial to the concrete jungle look anyway - it has its own hidden beauty that few realize

[atadytic19]

Originally Posted by stoneclaw

During the last 5 years, there's been alot of tree planting along Houston's freeways. They planted some in the middle of 288 and alongside the eastern edge of the wall barrier between south of downtown and loop 610. I think it looks great. 59 has the moss growing on the trenched part of the wall, there was some plantings on North Freeway, Katy Fwy, and 610E between 288 and I45 has also recently begun tree planting. It's also said that Trees also help reduce the temperment of drivers.

I know its all intended to improve the look of the city, but doesn't it make the city kind of have a rural feel to it to the point where it almost looks boring? I'm more intrigued by urban freeway designs like the Katy Freeway where they have the sound barrier walls which is good for asthetics. The north Central Expwy in Dallas is also another freeway that appears more urban.

Anyway, who thinks the tree plantings in Houston are good? Click on link to see photo of 288 traveling into downtown here below.

Houston's downtown skyline #2 | Taken from the Binz/Calumet (broken link)

Send votes please

All those trees planted the last few years are making Houston look so beautiful. Seeing lush vegetation instead of billboards, utility wires and and run down strip malls broken and uneven parking. I don't here the Houston is flat and ugly chant like I used to. The trees give color and dimension. The oleanders are putting on quite a show right now. I thought all the redbuds were pretty this year but the oleaders are putting in even more work.

Even downtown is heavily planted in trees which make for a more pleasant walk.

[Fight Red Light]

For those who don't like trees, move to Pasadena. I saw the palms they planted along 225 in Pasadena are pretty much all dead probably due to the air there...

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by atadytic19

All those trees planted the last few years are making Houston look so beautiful. Seeing lush vegetation instead of billboards, utility wires and and run down strip malls broken and uneven parking. I don't here the Houston is flat and ugly chant like I used to. The trees give color and dimension. The oleanders are putting on quite a show right now. I thought all the redbuds were pretty this year but the oleaders are putting in even more work.

Even downtown is heavily planted in trees which make for a more pleasant walk.

I agree. I'm in Houston this weekend and the plantings have made quite a difference. On the Katy Freeway, there are times where you can't see much of anything along the feeders because there's such dense greenery now alongside the freeway.

[nana053]

You can volunteer for Trees for Houston to help plant trees.

https://www.treesforhouston.org/

They supported NPR in this fund drive, so you could renew or get a new membership and plant a tree.

https://www.treesforhouston.org/volunteer

[Exult.Q36]

I saw that too when I was down in Houston. It looked really nice.