If you’re outside at a park or in your backyard on a hot, sunny day, all you want to do is find a shady spot to cool down. If you’re lucky, there will be a beautiful, big tree there to provide shade. Trees are a natural barrier to protect individuals from harmful ultraviolet rays. In the United States, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. It is estimated that one in five Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their life. Given its prevalence, we must make every effort to create spaces where individuals can stay out of the sunlight while being able to enjoy the outdoors.

This is where the importance of trees comes in. Trees require little maintenance and immediately make a park or outdoor area more inviting. They provide a space for children and other parkgoers to rest from the sun, reducing their exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. A study conducted by Purdue University found that if you stand in the full shade of a tree, the time it could take them to burn would be reduced from 20 minutes to 100 minutes. This is the equivalent to wearing SPF 10 sunscreen, and if you are already wearing sunscreen, it will increase the length of time that you are protected!

In addition to protecting children from the sun at parks or in their yards, trees make a big impact for pedestrians walking through neighborhoods or along roads. In neighborhoods, having trees in front of every house can provide a canopy cover over sidewalks and walkways, reducing the heat and sun exposure for pedestrians. A study conducted in Wisconsin measured the heat difference between streets that had no tree canopy and those that were at least 40% covered. The results found that if the tree canopy was at least 40% full, the temperature was reduced by 5-7℉. The restriction of sunlight provided by this canopy cover protects pedestrians from overexposure to the sun and reduces the effects of heat being absorbed and reflected back into the atmosphere.

Trees enhance parks, sidewalks, and many other places by providing shade and a cool atmosphere for people to join. GHEP’s Family Tree Adoption Program provides free trees for your yard, so your family can enjoy the outdoors and stay active while staying protected from ultraviolet rays. Get your tree now, and in only a few years, it will be providing shade for you, your family, and your neighbors!

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