A parade of trees set to music helped spectators envision a greener, healthier Louisville in a volunteer-powered street activation as part of the city’s PickleY’all Festival. The Moving Forest @ PickleY’all featured seventy 12-14-foot trees displayed in various formations in a choreographed production to help Louisvillians visualize how street trees and plants could transform downtown.
In a presentation compared to a slow-moving marching band of trees, volunteers moved the large trees on heavy-duty garden carts onto the 500 block of Jefferson St., placing them in various configurations in front of Metro Hall. The project turned an urban-design exercise into a live public performance, inviting spectators to experience what it would be like to have Louisville’s downtown filled with tree-lined streets, pedestrian allées and planted medians.
Patrick Piuma, director of the Urban Design Studio, part of the University of Louisville’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, conceived and organized the program and Louisville Ballet dancer Leigh Anne Albrechta choreographed the movements. A soundtrack by DJ Sylvanus Hudson accompanied the formations.
“The Moving Forest highlights the power of nature to transform urban spaces, making them healthier and more attractive to residents, workers and visitors,” Piuma said.
The Moving Forest also calls attention to the dozens of urban greening projects of the Greenprint initiative, a citywide partnership commissioned by the Louisville mayor’s office and coordinated by the Envirome Institute to integrate health-focused greening strategies into downtown Louisville’s growth and redevelopment.
Research in UofL’s Envirome Institute is increasing our understanding of how trees benefit human health and the broader urban ecology. That research supports the health and economic benefits city leaders expect from Louisville’s recently adopted Urban Forest Master Plan, calling for every neighborhood to reach at least 30% tree canopy coverage. Downtown Louisville currently has 7% tree canopy.
The Moving Forest was made possible by support from the Humana Foundation and volunteers from UPS, Humana and other corporate partners.
Following the event, Louisville Grows and TreesLouisville will prepare the trees for planting at Greenprint and environmental health research sites across Louisville. The carts will be donated to community greening organizations, extending the project support those organizations working to expand the city’s tree canopy.
