Greening Hudson Avenue: A Sunny Success for CityTrees
There is something transformative about a neighborhood coming together to plant trees. This Saturday, under a perfectly clear blue sky, Hudson Avenue in Redwood City became a little greener, a little cooler, and a lot more vibrant.
With over a dozen enthusiastic volunteers donning their neon vests and grabbing shovels, the CityTrees team set out to enhance our local canopy. It was a day of hard work, quick problem-solving, and great company.
The Logistics: From 20 Spots to 11 Trees
Urban planting is a bit like a puzzle—you don’t always know if a piece fits until you start digging! While we initially identified over 20 potential planting sites along the street, the reality of underground infrastructure and neighborhood dynamics shifted our plans:
- Utility Safety First: 6 spots were ruled out to protect underground sewer and water lines.
- The Final Count: Out of the remaining 15 potential spots, we successfully planted 11 new trees.
Why the change? As any urban forester knows, flexibility is key. Two homeowners opted out of a tree, one site still had a stump awaiting a DPW grind, and one final spot was skipped by the auger (likely due to tight spacing).
Meet the New Residents
We didn’t just plant any trees; we selected species that will thrive and provide beauty for decades to come:
- Raywood Ash: Known for its stunning purple-red fall foliage.
- Compton Oak: A hardy, beautiful choice that provides excellent shade.
A Community Effort
This planting was made possible thanks to a generous grant from PG&E, whose support helps us keep Redwood City’s “urban forest” growing. We also want to give a massive shout-out to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for their partnership in prepping the sites.
But the real stars were the volunteers. Seeing neighbors of all ages working side-by-side to improve a street they might not even live on is exactly what CityTrees is all about.
Click here to view a map of the trees planted in TreePlotter.
Want to join us at the next planting? Keep an eye on our calendar and help us reach our goal of a leafier, healthier Redwood City.