Shade and Streetscape Master Plan

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Shade is Important.

Gilbert's Shade and Streetscape Master Plan was developed to create a healthier, more livable community through the strategic investment in maintenance and growth of the urban forest and engineered shade. In Arizona, trees and shade structures are critical assets of infrastructure and require long-term strategy and implementation.

The master plan provides a roadmap to increase the shade canopy cover of Gilbert’s public lands. Guidelines include a new urban tree palette, an updated planting and maintenance ordinance, the initiation of “Right Tree, Right Place” policy, highlights of nonprofit and private sector partnerships, and suggestions for implementing cost-effective green infrastructure (GI) and low-impact development (LID) strategies to reduce demand on water resources. Recently, a tree inventory has been completed for all town-maintained areas. Gilbert's focus on the quality and quantity of shade and trees on public lands will implement citizen desires for “cool temperature hubs” and pedestrian-friendly corridors.

Mission, Goals & Latest Updates

Mission Statement

Goals

Increase Comfort & Shade (Trees & Structures)
Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect & Increase Urban Cooling
Create Public and Private Connections and Relationships
Long-term Shade Canopy Health
Low Impact Development & Green Infrastructure Techniques
Create Cool Temperature Hubs
Ensure Accessibility & Education
Continued Long-Range Processe

Through close documentation of Gilbert and a comparison of best practices along with the capability to support additional shade, the following coverage goals were created for each of the following land types.

Schools - 30%
Parks (Neighborhood) - 60%
Parks (Community & Regional) 30%
Parking lots - 60%
Retention basins - 60%
Residential - 30%
Commercial - 30%
Streetscapes - 30%

Streetscapes - 30%

Latest Updates

January 2022: Gilbert Town Council approves Shade and Streetscape Master Plan.

August 2021: The Design Laboratory hosted a resident open hour at the University Building in Gilbert, AZ.

Watch the presentation, participate in the survey and check out our poster boards.

May 2021: We are currently working to complete the existing conditions report for shade coverage across Gilbert. We have used two methodologies, satellite imagery to capture total coverage of the town in shade and field documentation of shade coverage of both public and private trees that affect the walkability of the community in a range of different types of areas to provide a cross-section of built conditions. Included are 10 areas of focus that range from the Heritage District to Agritopia as well as roughly 10 miles of arterial and collector roadways giving us a strong understanding of the existing built conditions throughout the entire community. The data below extrapolates on what has been collect thus far.

The next steps include benchmarking against similar communities, heat mapping, and community outreach prior to moving into the initial outline for shade implementation.

*Graph shows current shade conditions in Gilbert.

Gilbert, Arizona

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