“There is no natural feature of a city that can enhance its beauty and attractiveness more than the presence of shade trees on the city streets. And there is no feature in any city that can better express the civic pride of the city than the manner in which the city’s shade trees are cared for.”

— Alfred MacDonald, Director of Wichita Parks and Forestry, City Manager Magazine, March 1924

You may think that protecting treetops is old-fashioned and quaint, or that in times of drought and tight budgets, we cannot afford the luxury of shade-giving trees.

We disagree. We are ICT Trees and we know that we cannot afford to allow our city’s treetops to be neglected and lost.

We know the many benefits of shade trees. They cool our sidewalks and parks. Trees absorb carbon and give us vital oxygen.

Unfortunately, the City Manager has ordered that the Parks Department not plant any new trees this fall to address the current drought. This means no new street trees and no new trees or shrubs can be planted in Wichita parks – even if dead or dying trees are removed.

We understand the need to respond to the drought crisis and have been assured that the young trees recently planted by the Park’s Forestry Department will be preserved.

However, we also recognize the urgent need to not only preserve Wichita’s shrinking tree canopy, but to expand it.

Not doing so would be like eating our seeds in a famine.

NASA: Wichita needs more trees

In 2022, the City of Wichita partnered with NASA to study the connection between heat, trees and environmental justice.

NASA’s final report (November 17, 2022) identified seventeen census tracts where there is an increased heat risk for vulnerable citizens due to the uneven distribution of tree canopy in the city.

Last spring, the city launched an extensive tree planting program in or near these urban “heat islands.”

The small but measurable progress the city has made on this issue is now at risk.

Alfred MacDonald, hired by Wichita’s first city manager, LW Clapp, recognized the critical importance of trees to Wichita’s long-term success.

At a time when Wichita was about the size of Hutchinson today, he reported that the Wichita Parks and Forestry Department planted 1,000 trees annually!

Although MacDonald wrote his story a hundred years ago, his message still applies to us today:

“Shade trees not only add to the beauty and appearance of a city, but also increase property values. They make a city a healthier place to live. … Shade trees are the most important factor in alleviating the intense heat of our summer months.”

ICT Trees is also concerned about the recent discussion in the City Council about closing some Wichita parks.

The Wichita park system was previously rated below average in a study of parks in the 100 largest American cities.

One positive aspect, however, is the extremely positive assessment of the number of city parks that are easily accessible to low- to middle-income residents.

We know neighborhoods love their parks. Now is the time to show your support.

▪ Follow the City Council meeting schedule, attend, and speak up when the Parks and Forestry budget is up for discussion.

▪ You will have the opportunity to speak at three scheduled public hearings on the budget over the next two weeks: Thursday at 6 p.m. and August 13 and 20 at 9 a.m. All three meetings will be held at City Hall, 455 N. Main, Wichita.

▪ Contact your city council member – you can find their email address on the city website. Let the mayor and city council know you support your parks.

And while you’re at it, put in a good word for tree planting!

Harold Schlechtweg is president of ICT Trees, an organization dedicated to planting and maintaining Wichita’s tree canopy.