There’s a miniature forest rising in Downtown Orlando. More than 300 small trees occupy the site of prime future retail space, but its value now is in what it represents – a reduction in car emissions.
The new “Downtown Orlando Treemissions” project was unveiled by the Downtown Development Board to show how even a small effort can have a big impact on the community, said Executive Director Thomas C. Chatmon Jr.
“We want to raise environmental awareness on this, the first day of the month that celebrates both Earth Day and Arbor Day,” Chatmon said. “It’s no coincidence the location is at the corner of two important tree-named roads: Orange Avenue and Pine Street.”
Live oaks, magnolias and hollies – 330 trees in all – have been positioned on the northwest corner of Orange and Pine. The significance: It takes about three trees to offset the carbon emissions of the average car. That means 330 trees will be equivalent to taking 100 vehicles off the streets of Downtown Orlando, Chatmon said.
“Downtown Orlando Treemissions will be, quite literally, a breath of fresh air for downtowners,” he said.
“The project also is both a visual and useful way to demonstrate the city’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship,” Chatmon added. Already, hundreds of cars daily are kept off downtown Orlando roads thanks to the city’s free Lymmo bus service launched in 1997. Three years ago, Mayor Buddy Dyer also set in motion Green Works Orlando, a comprehensive program aimed at protecting natural resources and encouraging environmentally friendly practices by government, residents and businesses. One priority of Green Works Orlando is to increase the amount of trees and green space throughout the city.
Downtown Orlando Treemissions not only further seeds such environmental awareness, Chatmon said, it makes great temporary use of vacant property during challenging economic times. “It affords us the opportunity to showcase a prime retail location in the heart of the Central Business District.”
All of the trees are being donated by the Orange County Extension Service (OCES), a partnership of Orange County and the University of Florida.
