Public information page

San José Street Tree Project

This page explains why I may be visiting or observing street trees in your neighborhood. It is intended as a brief public information page for residents, not a full research report.

Please note: This page shares general project information and broad progress updates only. It does not report detailed results, homeowner-specific findings, or property-level conclusions.
4,123
Sample tree sites
Target field verification sites in the working sample.
63
Neighborhoods in sample
Neighborhood units selected for field review.
0
Trees visited so far
Update this number as fieldwork progresses.
0
Neighborhood blocks visited
Broad progress metric only; no address-level reporting.

What this project is about

This project is examining what happens at previously documented street tree planting sites over time, especially where trees were recorded as being in poor condition or dead in a 2020 baseline inventory. The focus is on broad patterns of tree persistence, replacement, and site conversion.

In plain terms, I am trying to understand whether former tree sites remain tree sites, become planted with something else, or are converted to non-planting surfaces. The project also considers how these choices relate to long-term canopy potential and the City of San José’s urban forest goals.

What I may be doing in the field

  • Looking at the current condition of a street tree planting site from the public right-of-way
  • Checking whether the original tree is still present
  • Noting whether the site now contains a new tree, another plant type, bare planting area, hardscape, or a stump
  • Recording observations in a mobile GIS field form

What I am not doing

  • I am not evaluating private yards beyond what can be observed from public space
  • I am not issuing citations or acting in an enforcement role
  • I am not publishing household-specific findings on this page
View project progress City urban forest goals PDF

Progress so far

This section is intended for broad public-facing progress only. You can update the numbers below as fieldwork continues without sharing detailed findings prematurely.

Visited neighborhood blocks
Replace this line with a running count or simple sentence, such as “17 block faces visited as of April 2026.”
Recent general areas visited
List broad locations only, such as neighborhood names or major cross-streets, not exact addresses.
Field season note
Example: “Observations are ongoing and summaries shown here are preliminary and descriptive only.”

Frequently asked questions

Why are you looking at street trees in front of homes?

The project is focused on street tree planting sites and long-term patterns in urban forest change. Observations are made from public space and are limited to broad site conditions relevant to the study.

Are you with the City?

This page can be customized to explain your role clearly. If you want, replace this text with a short statement about whether the work is independent research, graduate research, contractor-supported fieldwork, or another role.

Will exact results for my property be shared here?

No. This page is intended for general project explanation and broad progress reporting only.