Trees take root as Virginia’s frontline defense against urban heat

April 6, 2026, Virginia Mercury

As temperatures climb, some parts of the commonwealth are heating up faster than others — a result of too few trees and too little shade. Neighborhoods without tree canopy can be up to 15 degrees hotter than those with tree cover, and often those areas are home to communities of color and lower income households. 

To address the legacy of redlining and underinvestment in these parts of Virginia localities, state and local groups are working to lower temperatures naturally by planting trees.

Across Richmond, hundreds of tree wells sit empty. Through a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the city and community-based groups are working to plant more trees and bring shade to neighborhoods that need it most.

“The neighborhood organizations and these nonprofits are kind of stepping in to assist the city in this effort because we do realize that there are a lot of needs and priorities that the city has to take care of,” said Amy Wentz, co-founder of Southside ReLeaf. 

The Cool the City initiative was created as part of Richmond’s RVAgreen plan to increase tree coverage across the city. Local officials also hired an urban forester for the first time to develop a comprehensive plan identifying where more green space is needed most.