Miyawaki micro forests to cool neighborhoods
Plant micro forests on small vacant city lots to cool heat islands and filter air in Roxbury, Dorchester and other areas lacking tree canopy.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
Now more than ever it's apparent that we need to figure out creative solutions to cool our cities in hot weather. A perfect way to do this is by planting micro forests in city property using the Miyawaki method
Who it helps and why
Boston's historically redlined neighborhoods, like Roxbury and Dorchester, suffer from a stark lack of tree canopy, driving up heat and asthma rates. Placing micro forests on small, vacant lots rapidly cools these heat islands and filters air pollution, directly delivering health equity and climate resilience to communities of color.
Details
- Cycle
- 2026–27
- Submitted
- July 11, 2026
- Neighborhood
- City-wide
- Portal category
- Sustainability
- How it was submitted
- Individual submission
- Submission language
- English
- Themes
- Parks, trees & climate
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
City-wide ideas in Parks, trees & climate from the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2025–26 (85 matching)
- Plant 1,000 new trees with community eventsUse new funding for a public campaign to plant 1,000 additional trees, including events where residents help plant street trees.2025–26City-wide
- Public indoor playgrounds for winterResident asks for publicly accessible indoor playgrounds, perhaps in malls or near supermarkets as in Mexico City, so low-income families have free winter play options.2025–26City-wide
- More pervious pavement citywideResident asks for more pervious pavement wherever possible, to benefit water systems and the environment and keep water clean.2025–26City-wide
2024–25 (54 matching)
- Picnic seating along the Emerald NecklaceResident asks for picnic seating throughout the Emerald Necklace so people can enjoy meals outdoors and feel more community connection.2024–25City-wide
- Cleaner, safer parks and playgroundsResident asks for more trash barrels, pickup schedules and closing gates for parks near busy streets so children have clean, safe places to play, especially in low-income neighborhoods.2024–25City-wide
- Plant more trees and vegetation citywideResident asks for reforestation and more greenery to adapt to climate change and lower urban temperatures, especially helping people without air conditioning.2024–25City-wide