There is currently space for 4600 trees to be planted within Chico's public right-of-way, and thousands of more spots available in parking lots and on private residential property.
Those with homes in older areas of Chico can attest to the value of the tree canopy in both reducing the need for air conditioning as well as improving the general ambiance of the community.
The city lacks the funds to plant and maintain 4600 new trees, but that doesn't mean that folks can't take the plunge and plant their own trees in the space between the sidewalk and the street in front of their homes. I would recommend native valley oaks or California sycamores, however other good choices are presented on the Chico General Services website.
About Me: Jeremy wears many hats, including substitute teacher, school garden educator, hike leader, youth group advisor, Gardener's Swap Meet coordinator, husband, and father. His lifelong quests include the search for the perfect burrito, and more recently, how to sprout an avocado tree from a pit.
My dad operates "The Acorn Seed," a small nursery of native oak varieties, which he has propagated from acorns of healthy trees around Chico. He has several drought-resistant and fast-growing species on hand. The nursery is in Oroville, open by appointment only. For more details, contact Jim Connolly at 534-5363.