Long Beach residents are encouraged to share their opinions on trees and future environmental investments, as well as ideas for improving green space access through a new digital survey.
The public feedback garnered by the survey, which can be completed now through Oct. 31, will aid with the development of the City’s Urban Forest Plan (UFP), which is intended to nurture the health and sustainability of the city’s trees and green spaces. The UFP will steer the long-term priorities and strategies for Long Beach’s tree canopy in parks, streets and neighborhoods.
Trees are vital in managing various environmental and public health challenges, including helping to cool neighborhoods during extreme heat, supporting biodiversity and improving air and water quality. That said, under-resourced communities often lack equal access to a thriving tree canopy and don’t receive the same physical and mental health benefits.
According to the City, the UFP will aim to do the following:
- Evaluate the current state of the City’s tree canopy and maintenance practices.
- Identify neighborhoods with the highest need for new tree plantings.
- Set community-informed goals for equity, climate resilience and sustainability.
- Recommend best practices for tree care, operations and policy improvements.
- Support long-term investment in the City’s tree canopy and the critical, necessary infrastructure that supports a healthy lifecycle.
The survey can be completed online in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog through the end of October. Residents without reliable internet access can take the survey using public computers at any of the 12 Long Beach Public Library locations during regular business hours.
Those who would prefer a print survey can request to have one mailed to them by emailing UFP nonprofit partner City Fabrick at Hannah@CityFabrick.org or calling 562-901-2128. Print surveys will also be made available through outreach methods, according to the City.
The UFP is being developed in collaboration with City Fabrick and environmental planning firm Dudek and features multilingual community outreach initiatives such as pop-up events, listening sessions, open houses and an online storytelling campaign.
This plan aligns with adopted City plans such as the Land Use Element, Open Space Element, Parks Strategic Plan and supports the implementation of the Long Beach Climate Action Plan. The UFP also furthers the sustainability and equity objectives of the City’s Strategic Vision 2030, as well as the priorities of the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Plan and the 10-year West Long Beach investment initiative Westside Promise.
The anticipated completion date for the Urban Forest Plan is mid-2026. To learn more about the UFP and see project updates, visit lbcity.info/forest.
