- Canopy cover for reduced urban heat island
- Stormwater capture and management
- Carbon storage in tree/shrub biomass and the soil
- Wildlife habitat value and biodiversity conservation
- Aesthetic value and enhanced human wellness
Overgrown shrubs that threatened the maturing trees have been removed and four mini-groves have been created with three more planned
The 75 ft x 170 ft area is on the southeast side of the Memorial Grove near Shasta Drive. Over 200 native understory plants and 13 trees were planted to create a rich and diverse habitat for pollinators and wildlife. The plant species were specially selected for spring flowering and fall foliage color, as well as drought and pest tolerance.
Climate-Ready Landscapes are catalyzing strategic partnerships to plant and steward parks in local neighborhoods to combat climate change, save water, create wildlife habitat, restore biodiversity, promote human health, and ensure that future generations will benefit from healthy greenspaces. Tree Davis is engaging city staff, landscape professionals, residents, schools, and other groups in the planning and management process, creating a series of demonstration sites.
Ever since it was constructed in 2001, the greenbelt south of University Retirement Community (URC) has been designated as the Tree Davis Memorial Grove. Originally intended as a site for memorial and commemorative tree plantings, Tree Davis found over the ensuing decades that many of the park’s shrub plantings were excessively vigorous and not compatible with healthy tree growth. Starting in 2019, Tree Davis began an initiative to renovate the grove as a �Climate-Ready Landscape� pilot project, that transitions conventional landscape shrub plantings to native and drought tolerant species with a greater likelihood of thriving in our changing climate. New plantings have been selected for their beauty, wildlife habitat value, and compatibility with the growth of young trees. New tree plantings have focused on climate-ready selections that have proven heat and drought tolerance.
Landscape re, focusing first on overgrown shrub areas. As drought conditions have worsened, Tree Davis has worked with the City of Davis to identify underutilized turf areas to convert to Climate-Ready Landscapes. Conversion of turf areas will conserve water, increase wildlife habitat, and open up space for the planting of more Climate-Ready trees. Because turf conversions also have the potential to change recreational use patterns of the greenbelt, we are seeking feedback from residents living near the greenbelt and others who use the space regularly.
- Saturday, � Drop-in Neighborhood Meeting in the Memorial Grove, 1517 Shasta Dr
- Wednesday, � City of Davis Recreation and Park Commission Meeting, Community Chambers, City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd
Background
The Tree Davis Memorial Tree Grove was constructed 20 years ago when the University Retirement Community (URC) was built at 1515 Shasta Drive. The 1.4-acre site contains 61 Memorial trees and a welded steel sculpture containing small plaques for each person/tree, located in the center of the site. The sculpture currently has space for additional plaques, and Tree Davis is accepting donations for additional memorial trees. Trees have been planted along decomposed granite trails that meander along a beautiful cobble-lined stream bed. The site includes irrigated turf and climate-ready tree and shrub species.
Plantings in the Memorial Tree Grove positively impact about 500 senior citizens who live adjacent to the Grove at URC and Shasta Point, an affordable housing facility. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to physical and mental health threats, and the Grove provides a beautiful area for residents to walk through, or sit and enjoy. Residents of nearby Evergreen Meadows Neighborhood live adjacent to Highway 113 and are exposed to associated air and noise pollutant loads. By creating a shaded and scenic greenspace that is within a quarter-mile of these at-risk demographics, the Grove is a pathway to both physical and mental health protection and chronic disease prevention.