Diana Rhoades is a Director of the Board of the Downtown Alliance and is passionate about creating living, vibrant street-scapes in Tucson that we can be proud of. She is currently running Regina Romero's City Council campaign. She is advocating a project to beautify downtown through the planting of 1000 trees that will use passive water harvesting for irrigation. She recently recorded a video commentary as part of Carolyn Brown's My Commentary project:
This is a wonderful idea which may be implemented as part of a downtown beautification and planting project which will make Tucson bloom and establish Tucson as a destination for those wishing to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert in bloom. The quality of life in Tucson will be measurably improved with improved walkability, great outdoor recreation and commerce, reduced energy use, and more placid traffic. The psychological benefits of beauty also cannot be overstated. I once travelled all the way across Tucson to locate a single desert willow that I saw a photo of on a friend's blog, just to admire its beauty in person.
This beautification program represents a major investment for the city, and politicians alway feel exposed when spending money on aesthetics, so let your city council member know that you think it's money well-spent.
Yes!!!! I don't live in the city but I enthusiastically support Diana's idea and would be happy to make a contribution, if someone will provide an address.
It is so refreshing, in these times when all the news is awful, to see someone who wants to plant trees.
Posted by: Francine Shacter | August 05, 2007 at 09:17 AM
Great idea. I particularly like that the trees will be "native" trees--not, e.g., South American mesquites.
Posted by: ccburro | August 05, 2007 at 05:48 PM
What the Hell is this?
1000 trees in Downtown will bring everyone BACK to a place built for seats of Government and Hotels for Visitors NOT residents?
Francine you had better talk to those of us who have lived in Tucson more than Two Years!
Posted by: American Chauvinist | August 05, 2007 at 07:40 PM
Regarding American Chauvinist's comment-- how can anyone be against planting trees???? (Maybe I shouldn't encourage him by paying attention to his ridiculous commentaries on this blog.)
I think planting trees downtown is a great idea. It's amazing what a little shade can do for you on a hot day-- not to mention what trees do for the overall health and beauty of the environment. The desert willows and mesquites along the Rillito River walk are gorgeous year round and they're not anywhere near full grown yet. It's too bad that those trees were not planted with passive rain water collection in mind. Glad to hear that they're thinking along those lines for the downtown trees.
Posted by: Jai | August 08, 2007 at 10:48 AM