How Trees Can Support Placemaking - Integrating Nature and Public Spaces in Carmel, California

Carmel, California was designed before the era of the car, centered around nature and people instead of vehicles.

In Carmel, California nature is center-stage. It is a town characterized by trees and their lush green crowns, with trunks sprouting up in every place and angling in every direction. The tree-rich look of Carmel makes it a memorable and unique place and originates at its founding.

In the early 1900s, James Franklin Devendorf and Frank Hubbard Powers brought the Carmel Development Company to town and created Carmel-by-the-Sea, a community for artists, musicians, and nature lovers. They believed nature and cities should not be separate, but rather harmoniously intertwined. Devendorf is said to have always planted some trees with each lot they sold and encouraged new homeowners to grow the saplings he gave them. Today, trees are Carmel's defining feature and a key reason why it's such a beloved destination.

According to the Carmel Residents website, the town's trees offer numerous benefits:

"Our established trees provide an amazing sense of place and enjoyment in this walkable town. They screen noise and soften the look of business and residential areas. Trees help increase property values, some say from 7-20%, with the resulting tax benefits. Trees connect us to nature and history, as they outlast us. Upper canopy trees protect the environment and the understory trees and vegetation. They catch the fog’s condensation for needed moisture. And for all who care about climate change forces, trees absorb carbon dioxide – an average tree captures nearly half ton of carbon dioxide over its first 30 years. Trees help moderate wind – with a grove of trees cutting a 20MPH wind to 5MPH. Trees produce oxygen by reducing pollution, soil erosion and runoff. And our trees provide habitat for birds and other wildlife."

The trees contribute a unique sense of place that adds character throughout Carmel's downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Carmel's Streets

Carmel's Sidewalks

The trees are left to grow where they are and the streets and walkways are shaped around them.

Carmel's Corners

Cafés and Restaurants

Storefronts and Terraces

Seating Areas

La Playa Hotel

Takeaways

The trees in Carmel never seem out of balance, nor do they dominate the area. Instead, they balance out the human-made buildings and cars, resulting in an organic-feeling environment where people, nature, and cars all share the space. Carmel feels like an oasis of nature that stands out in the midst of our predominantly industrial-looking, car-dominated cities. Indeed, the trees are what make Carmel Carmel. They were integral in its founding years, were highlighted in its develoment plans, and have grown to define it.

The trees offer Carmel a number of valuable benefits. They make the village safer because drivers accept the trees as a part of the experience of being in Carmel and drive slowly and carefully to avoid them. This leads to a safer and more enjoyable outdoor experience for all as the streets are calm. The trees throw pleasant shade, make the air smell fresh, and create an interesting and unpredictable terrain that is fun to explore, which leads to memorable experiences.

The trees also make walking a popular and beloved activity because of how they are woven into the sidewalks and streets in a way that makes the city look and feel special. The presence of nature everywhere encourages being outside and exploring the outdoors to bask in the fresh air and lush greenery. By focusing on nature and the pedestrian experience, Carmel is a treasure brought forward from a past we keep trying to emulate. Other cities would benefit from following its lead.