The city of Spokane is taking steps to improve its urban forest by developing new landscaping requirements.

“There is a real push going on now with city projects,” said Spokane urban planner Tom Reese.

The Indian Trail widening work will demonstrate how city projects can be landscaped with a blend of street trees and native plants.

The road project includes a 12-foot center strip with 89 large canopy, non-native street trees. Native grasses and shrubs will be used along the median.

The sides of the boulevard, between 7 and 13 feet wide, will also be landscaped with native grasses and shrubs.

Efforts will also be made to keep as many native pines in place along the road as possible, Reese said.

“When you are doing an engineering project, you have to meet transportation criteria. We are going to lose some trees. That’s not good, but we are taking measures to preserve as many as possible,” he said.

But Reese warns North Side residents not to set their expectations too high.

“It’s not going to be Rockwood Boulevard, it’s not going to be Manito,” he said.

It’s also not going to be barren Division Street.

Native plants and ground covers need less water than lawns and are easier to care for.

“It’s hard to get grass and turf to grow,” said Reese.”It takes a lot of water, and water is a more finite resource than we once realized. We’re smarter about using it now.”

“Some of these ideas just need to be put out there. That’s why we’re pushing Indian Trail, to show we can have an attractive transportation (landscape) with low irrigation.

“It’s pushing the envelope for Spokane,” said Reese. “I’m looking forward to it.”

, DataTimes