Rooted in Legacy: Growing a Greener San Diego with Kate Sessions Trees

Written by Apprentice Della R

Bronze statue of Kate Sessions located in Balboa Park

Introduction:

The Kate Sessions Trees program promotes tree canopy coverage across San Diego County, enhancing community spaces and raising awareness about trees' environmental benefits. By planting and sustaining trees in key areas, the program aims to combat climate change, improve local walkability, and honor the legacy of Kate Sessions, a pioneering advocate for urban greenery.

The Kate Sessions Trees Program:

As part of the Kate Sessions Commitment, the Kate Sessions Trees program is dedicated to enhancing tree canopy coverage across San Diego County while promoting the numerous benefits that trees provide to local individuals. This initiative focuses on increasing the number of trees in public spaces and spreading awareness of their positive environmental and social impact. Many of you may be familiar with Kate Sessions Memorial Park on Soledad Road, which honors Kate Sessions, a pioneer in environmental stewardship and the mother of Balboa Park (Kate Sessions Commitment. (n.d.). 

In 1892, Sessions made a remarkable commitment to plant 100 trees on her leased land in Balboa Park, alongside another 300 trees across the broader San Diego County area. Her contributions to tree planting not only beautified the city, but also laid the foundation for the vibrant, green space that Balboa Park is today. If you’ve ever walked through Balboa Park and admired its old, majestic trees, chances are they were planted by Kate Sessions herself. Her vision and dedication to planting canopy trees helped transform the park into the cultural and natural gem it is now (Kate Sessions Commitment. (n.d.).

A Lasting Legacy:

Shade trees play a vital role in creating comfortable and inviting spaces in urban environments. In places like parks, sidewalks, and parking lots, they are key to making the outdoors available and enjoyable year-round. In addition to their beauty, trees provide significant environmental benefits. They lower temperatures by cooling the air under their canopy, offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays, and contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide. Furthermore, trees enhance the walkability of neighborhoods, encouraging people to spend more time outdoors and fostering a deeper connection to nature, all within easy reach of their homes (Davey Proven Solutions for a Growing World, 2022).

The Kate Sessions Trees program not only works to plant new trees but also ensures the long-term health and growth of these trees in local neighborhoods. The program identifies areas that will benefit most from the addition of new tree canopy and works on projects that support tree growth. One current initiative is a citizen science project that focuses on tracking the growth and health of trees in parking lots throughout San Diego. By collecting data from these locations, the program aims to develop a detailed report for city officials,  informing future tree-planting efforts, and ensuring that new trees are planted most effectively and sustainably as possible (San Diego History Center. (n.d.).

Community In Action

Through this program, Kate Sessions Trees offers residents and community members an opportunity to directly contribute to the improvement of our environment and quality of life. By supporting the planting and maintenance of trees, we’re investing in a greener, healthier future for everyone. These efforts help create stronger, more resilient neighborhoods, and they allow us to honor the legacy of Kate Sessions, whose early dedication to trees has left a lasting impact on San Diego's landscape (Kate Sessions Commitment. (n.d.).

About the Author

Della Roach has been a part of the Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Apprenticeship Program (CESAP) with the Ecologik Institute for a year and a half. She is also one of the Ecologik Community Engagement and Education Interns. Roach is a full-time college student as well.

References

Kate Sessions Commitment. (n.d.). About. katestrees.org/about/.

Kate Sessions Commitment. (n.d.). Parking Lot Trees. katestrees.org/parking-lot-trees/.

San Diego History Center. (n.d.). Kate Sessions 1857-1940. sandiegohistory.org/archives/biographysubject/sessions/.

Davey Proven Solutions for a Growing World. (2022, May 03). Why Are Shade Trees Important & The Benefits. https://blog.davey.com/why-are-shade-trees-important-the-benefits/