Community Goals and Priorities Survey

We're branching out to gather your thoughts to help spruce up our Tree Code. Your input will help create a shared community vision for our urban canopy and guide the update of our city's tree policies to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of trees in our community.

Images of trees throughout Gresham

What's your vision for Gresham's trees? Let’s get to the root of the matter together!

How much do you value having trees in our city?

Not at all

A little

A moderate amount

A lot

How would you describe the ideal tree canopy coverage for our city?

Dense trees everywhere, abundant shade and green everywhere you go.

Plentiful trees in most areas, lots of shade and green.

Some trees around, more in some places than others, relatively green.

Few trees, scattered shade, not much greenery.

Rare trees, little shade, scarce greenery.

Tree canopy

Examples of similar residential areas with different amounts of tree canopy.

Gresham's tree canopy:

Map of Gresham's tree canopy density

Gresham’s tree canopy cover varies widely across the city, ranging from areas with very few trees to those with abundant canopy. Many neighborhoods with fewer trees (but not all) also have higher numbers of residents experiencing poverty. Additionally, these areas typically have noticeably higher temperatures during the summer months compared to areas with more trees. These factors are essential considerations in understanding the community's goals and needs for trees across our city.

Trees of different ages have different functions. Please rank the following in order of importance (1-most to 4-least):

Preservation of existing large healthy trees (older trees clean the air and provide shade and habitat with minimum maintenance, but may be in awkward locations)

Select

Replacement of existing trees (replacing trees means flexibility in species and location, but they can take many years to provide the equivalent shade and habitat benefits of an existing larger tree)

Select

Preservation of large groves of trees (groves of trees can create high quality habitat and reduce summer heat but may also limit space for development such as new housing)

Select

Planting new trees (new trees can have climate benefits by sinking a lot of carbon, but they can also require maintenance)

Select

What is the ideal tree balance in our varied residential neighborhoods?

Abundant trees around a limited number of homes

Abundant trees around areas of denser homes

Balanced spaces with a variety of both trees and housing sizes

Mostly housing with limited or smaller trees

All housing, trees are not a concern

Other (please specify)

What is the ideal tree balance in our city centers (Downtown, Civic, and Rockwood)?

Abundant trees around a limited number of buildings

Abundant trees around denser or larger buildings

Balanced spaces with a variety of both trees and building sizes

Mostly buildings with limited or smaller trees

All buildings, trees are not a concern

Other (please specify)

Project Vision

Early community feedback has led to a draft project vision stating that:

Gresham has a thriving and equitably distributed tree canopy that supports climate resiliency and healthy living.

Do you agree with this vision for trees in our community?

11.

Please share your ideas for improving the community’s vision for trees.

12.

How important are tree regulations to achieving the vision of a thriving and equitably distributed tree canopy in Gresham?

Tree regulations are essential.

Tree regulations are important.

Tree regulations are moderately necessary.

Tree regulations are somewhat necessary but should be limited.

Tree regulations are unnecessary.

I am unsure about the importance of tree regulations.

Other (please specify)

13.

Is there anything else you'd like to add to help shape our community's vision for trees, or any additional thoughts you want to share as we develop the goals and priorities for updating our tree regulations?

Optional demographic questions

These next demographic questions are to help make sure that we are reaching all members of our community. The City will not share any identifying information submitted. Demographic information collected is only used to gauge the representation of survey participants and prevent duplicate survey entries.

14.

What Gresham neighborhood do you live in? (You can enter your address in the Neighborhood Finder Map to determine the neighborhood you live in.)

Select option

16.

Which of the below best describes your race/ethnicity? (Select all that apply)