ReLeaf Homewood
A Plan for a Healthier and Greener Neighborhood
The ReLeaf Homewood plan aims to improve residents’ quality of life by providing a roadmap and a list of priority projects to increase the neighborhood’s tree canopy and resident participation in tree care and educational activities. The plan calls for various action items to restore and protect Homewood’s community trees, with youth engagement as a fundamental anchoring point for consideration during future project implementation in the neighborhood. It also presents a roadmap for increasing tree canopy coverage to bring the neighborhood’s community tree canopy coverage closer to the average tree canopy coverage experienced throughout Pittsburgh.
Tree Pittsburgh has been actively involved in Homewood for over a decade, taking part in various projects such as tree plantings, tree adoption events, multiple Tree Tender training sessions for the public, and collaboration with Operation Better Block’s Junior Green Corps.
Our ReLeaf Homewood project directly responds to the priorities outlined in the Homewood Community Plan. This plan strives to implement strategies that equitably enhance housing, development, mobility, and infrastructure. In 2022, in partnership with Operation Better Block, our primary community partner, we initiated the development of the ReLeaf Homewood Plan.
Homewood Community Organizations
Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Homewood by visiting the community organization pages below!Â
Why Homewood
Homewood is comprised of three Pittsburgh neighborhoods: Homewood North, Homewood South, and Homewood West. Homewood’s neighborhoods saw an increase in tree canopy from 2015 to 2020. Homewood North has the highest percentage of tree canopy, at 44.05%. Homewood West has the second-highest canopy coverage, at 31.24% Homewood South has the least canopy coverage, at 18.58%. While each neighborhood saw an increase in the tree canopy, canopy loss is almost equal, meaning the canopy cover in each neighborhood grew less than one percent.
The East Busway runs through the neighborhood and features a bus station in Homewood South. About 50% of the population across each neighborhood is below 18 or over 65. These populations can be the most vulnerable to air quality issues exacerbated by infrastructure such as the busway and low tree canopy cover to capture pollutants. Additionally, reports of basement flooding have been associated with community areas with large impervious surfaces and fewer trees. An additional environmental factor facing the neighborhood is the Urban Heat Island Effect. Residents living in Homewood South and Homewood West experience the highest impacts of heat during the summer.
Read the ReLeaf Homewood plan below.
Learn More
Contact us to learn more about ReLeaf Homewood via email or by calling 412-781-8733 x213.
About ReLeaf
Tree Pittsburgh believes that everyone has a right to enjoy trees and the physical, mental, and social benefits they provide. Pittsburgh has an overall tree canopy of 42%, but this cover is not equally distributed. The ReLeaf Program is a necessary step to rectify these discrepancies and ensure all residents experience the benefits of a thriving urban forest. We concentrate our efforts on neighborhoods with insufficient tree canopy — which leads to heightened summer temperatures exacerbated by heat island challenges, compromised air quality, and localized flooding or stormwater runoff issues.