Tending the Canopy: Sustaining a Healthy Urban Forest

Name: Tending the Canopy: Sustaining a Healthy Urban Forest
Start: 2026-02-05T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-05T19:30:00-05:00
Location: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19103

Schedule

Thu Feb 05 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19103 | Philadelphia, PA

Trees line many Philadelphia streets and shade neighborhood parks and green spaces. The trees make our city more breathable and livable, help cool our neighborhoods during the warmest months and, according to studies, support both our mental and physical health. The Philadelphia urban tree canopy sustains life, proliferating biodiversity and mitigating against climate change by sequestering carbon. In our next Academy Town Square, Tending the Canopy, WHYY’s Maiken Scott speaks with three experts who illuminate how and why trees are planted and what it takes to sustain a healthy urban forest.
Highlights:
Erica Smith, Community Forestry Manager at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, will ground us with an overview of the 10-year strategic tree plan launched in 2023.
Dominique London, Executive Director of UC Green, will help unpack the barriers to planting and how communities can overcome them at the city’s largest tree-tending community organization.
Daniel Preziosi, Director of Trees at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will share how PHS provides essential resources that support and grow our urban canopy.
Gain a deeper appreciation for Philadelphia’s trees, learn practical ways to support our urban forest and leave with clear guidance on how to have a tree planted in your neighborhood.