Jim McPhearson of the Downtown Voices Coalition pointed out this great article on what is needed to support economic growth downtown. This example is from Tempe.

One ingredient is lots of trees and shaded spaces for pedestrians, shoppers and casual diners. Let’s hope that the next General Plan takes that more seriously. We have 100 reasons to learn from Tucson and plant more desert-friendly shade trees, most important of which is the heat island effect.

The mornings stay cooler longer and the evenings cool down faster. And, while I respect the grandeur of palm trees and their place in Phoenix history, they just don’t cut it. A 30 foot tall lawn dart simply does not provide the shade that we need.

They do, however provide very attractive living quarters for cockroaches and pigeons.