Tree Cover

The Tree Cover indicator measures the amount of tree canopy within the neighborhood. Data on Tree Cover is available from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD).

Numerous positive health outcomes are related to increased tree coverage. Trees absorb air pollution and release oxygen which has been shown to enhance respiratory health, reduce fatigue and increase productivity, promote physical activity, lower stress, and help control weight. Trees also absorb and block sound, with the ability to reduce noise pollution by as much as 40 percent. Tree cover also reduces exposure to UV rays, the cause of sun burns and skin cancer, and lowers air temperatures. Tree Cover is in the Natural Areas domain.

Neighborhood Indicator Value Ranksort descending
Bryn - Mawr 49.6% 1
East Harriet 39.9% 2
Hiawatha 39.3% 3
Cedar - Isles - Dean 38.0% 4
Howe 37.9% 5
Harrison 37.1% 6
Kenwood 36.6% 7
Camden Industrial 36.5% 8
Cedar Riverside 35.2% 9
Cooper 35.2% 9
Hale 35.1% 11
Prospect Park - East River Road 34.9% 12
Shingle Creek 34.8% 13
Tangletown 34.6% 14
North Loop 34.6% 14
Lowry Hill 33.8% 16
Lynnhurst 32.9% 17
West Calhoun 32.7% 18
Page 31.5% 19
East Calhoun (ECCO) 31.5% 19
Fulton 31.4% 21
Diamond Lake 30.9% 22
Field 30.3% 23
Lind - Bohanon 30.3% 23
Keewaydin 30.3% 23
Columbia Park 30.3% 23
Ericsson 30.1% 27
Bryant 30.0% 28
Mid - City Industrial 29.9% 29
Linden Hills 29.8% 30
University of Minnesota 29.8% 30
East Isles 29.7% 32
Seward 29.6% 33
Minnehaha 29.5% 34
Beltrami 29.3% 35
Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) 29.2% 36
Northrop 29.1% 37
Waite Park 29.1% 37
Nicollet Island - East Bank 28.9% 39
McKinley 28.8% 40
Willard - Hay 28.8% 40
Whittier 28.6% 42
Marcy Holmes 28.5% 43
Hawthorne 28.4% 44
Bottineau 28.2% 45
Audubon Park 28.2% 45
Powderhorn Park 28.2% 45
Loring Park 28.0% 48
Phillips West 28.0% 48
King Field 27.9% 50
Downtown East 27.9% 50
St. Anthony West 27.9% 50
Steven's Square - Loring Heights 27.5% 53
Midtown Phillips 27.5% 53
Northeast Park 27.3% 55
Lowry Hill East 27.3% 55
Armatage 27.1% 57
Regina 27.0% 58
Humboldt Industrial Area 26.7% 59
Folwell 26.5% 60
Kenny 26.4% 61
Victory 26.3% 62
Como 26.3% 62
East Phillips 26.2% 64
Near - North 26.1% 65
Morris Park 26.1% 65
Bancroft 26.0% 67
Corcoran 25.9% 68
Webber - Camden 25.8% 69
Longfellow 25.8% 69
Windom 25.8% 69
St. Anthony East 25.7% 72
Marshall Terrace 25.7% 72
Windom Park 25.6% 74
Jordan 25.6% 74
Wenonah 25.5% 76
Lyndale 25.3% 77
Sheridan 25.2% 78
Cleveland 24.5% 79
Standish 24.2% 80
Central 24.1% 81
Logan Park 24.0% 82
Holland 23.7% 83
Ventura Village 22.9% 84
Downtown West 17.7% 85
Elliot Park 0.0% 86
Sumner - Glenwood (Heritage Park) 0.0% 86

Key Citations:
1. Bowler DE, Buyung-Ali LM, Knight TM, Pullin AS. (2010) A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health. 2010 Aug 4;10:456. Available here

2. Grant RH, Heisler GM, Gao W. (2002) Estimation of pedestrian level UV exposure under trees. Photochem Photobiol. 2002 Apr; 75(4):369-76. Available here

3. Nowak, D. (2002). The Effects of Urban Trees on Air Quality. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Available here