Salt Lake City looks to shade trees to mitigate its ‘urban heat island’ effect

Urban environments made of concrete and asphalt are typically hotter than their rural counterparts, which can lead to negative health effects for residents.

(Sara Diggins | Special to The Tribune) A dying tree does little to shade the intersection of 500 S. and 1250 W. in Poplar Grove on July 16, 2021. Unshaded pavement in urban areas causes ground temperatures to rise, making neighborhoods warmer during summer months. Salt Lake City is looking to plant more trees to address these “heat islands.”

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Shelley K. MeschInnovation Lab reporter

Shelley is a reporter on The Tribune's Innovation Lab team, where she reports on how businesses, nonprofits and governments can address community problems.