According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, there is a direct correlation between lack of residential tree coverage/access to green, open spaces and public health risks. For many decades, Cities intentionally invested in park access and tree canopy in places adjacent to single-family neighborhoods. This left residents living in dense multi-family housing and low-income areas without quality access to open spaces and abundant tree canopy. 
Golden Valley and surrounding cities aren’t immune to these environmentally unfriendly areas with little to no tree coverage. The Environmental division of the City's Physical Development Department help the City identify and address issues like tree cover, and the Hennepin County map (right) shows which areas in and around Golden Valley are in need of new tree plantings to improve public health and combat climate change.
Red = High Priority, Pink = Medium Priority, and Yellow = Low Priority
Something as simple as planting trees in these areas can improve air quality, and cool land surface temperatures leading to better health outcomes, particularly for sensitive populations.
For more information on Environmental Justice, attend the upcoming Building An Equitable Golden Valley forum May 19, 6 pm at City Hall. The event will also be streamed online via Cisco Webex. Learn more.