ENCINITAS — In an effort to address a variety of city priorities, Encinitas will explore adding a dense collection of trees between Encinitas Community Park and Interstate 5 to reduce freeway noise and pollution while creating a greener backdrop for park visitors.
Councilmember Luke Shaffer and Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara initiated the item. Mayor Bruce Ehlers called it a “good idea,” and Councilmember Joy Lyndes said she was “happy to support” the idea.
The city estimates that more than 150,000 people visit the park each year to skate, walk dogs, play recreational sports, picnic and participate in other activities.
“We think this will increase health and experience at the Encinitas Community Park – create a more usable space, a friendlier space, a healthier space and a long-term space that becomes even more enjoyable and makes the park itself more attractive,” O’Hara said.
One of the city’s priorities the project aims to address is increasing Encinitas’ urban tree canopy. The city aims to plant 100 net new trees per year between 2021 and 2030. Between 2012 and 2025, Encinitas planted an average of 87 trees per year, according to city documents.
By the end of 2025, the city’s urban forest included 22,575 trees, according to the documents.
O’Hara said the additional tree canopy would improve the city’s climate resilience.
Another goal of the project is to provide a barrier between the noise, fumes and other pollutants from vehicles traveling along I-5 and people using the park.
Shaffer said a primary goal was to separate “the freeway gunk” from children and others playing at the park.
O’Hara said many of the park’s annual visitors are youths who come to play sports.
“They’re inhaling exhaust off the highway,” he said. “We want to clean that air before it gets to them a little bit better. And we think trees are one of the ways we can do that.”
Another goal of the project is to beautify the space.
O’Hara said that rather than seeing cars on the freeway, “a lovely row of trees would be much more enjoyable to see in that space.”
Ehlers suggested city staff explore collaborating with Caltrans to plant trees on portions of the slope within the agency’s right of way.
Lyndes, who has a background in landscape architecture, asked staff to explore a range of larger-than-usual tree species to fill gaps and provide the most coverage.
She also asked staff to return with cost estimates so the council could incorporate that information into a final decision.
O’Hara said he was unsure of the exact number of trees needed and welcomed a multiyear plan to ensure the best possible outcome for the project.
