Atlanta, Georgia
Client: Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
Size: 2,342 acres
Status: Completed 2021
Awards:
2023 Honor Award, Georgia ASLA
2023 Outstanding Urban Tree Canopy Plan Award, Georgia Tree Council
Collaborators: Central Atlanta Progress, Trees Atlanta, Long Engineering
Reinforcing the “City in the Forest” identity in downtown Atlanta.
HGOR led the Downtown Atlanta Urban Tree Planting Plan (DAUTPP), a city-shaping initiative to significantly expand tree canopy coverage within the urban core. With downtown tree canopy at just 3% compared to 47.9% citywide, the plan establishes a bold, implementable strategy to double canopy coverage by planting more than 8,000 trees over the next decade. Grounded in research, analysis, and stakeholder collaboration, the plan identifies targeted opportunities across streetscapes, plazas, and underutilized land—positioning tree canopy as critical infrastructure that improves environmental performance, enhances the public realm, and reinforces Atlanta’s identity as the “City in the Forest.”
Targeting the Urban Core Where It Matters Most
With downtown Atlanta significantly underserved in canopy coverage, the plan focuses investment where environmental and social benefits can be maximized. Strategic planting locations are selected to improve pedestrian comfort, strengthen streetscapes, and introduce moments of relief within dense urban conditions.
Tree Canopy as Urban Infrastructure
Beyond aesthetics, the plan positions tree canopy as a critical component of urban infrastructure. Expanding canopy coverage helps reduce the urban heat island effect, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality, and increase carbon sequestration—delivering measurable environmental benefits at a citywide scale.
From Data to Action
The plan translates analysis into a clear, phased implementation strategy. By identifying priority planting zones—including barren streets, underutilized plazas, highway buffers, and overlooked urban parcels—HGOR created a blueprint that moves beyond vision and into actionable steps for the next ten years.
A Blueprint for Atlanta’s Future
The Downtown Atlanta Urban Tree Planting Plan serves as a long-term framework for implementation, guiding public and private investment in tree planting over the next decade. By aligning environmental performance with human-scale experience, the plan supports a healthier, more comfortable, and more resilient downtown for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
