Shade	Previous  Index  Next
	In an sunny climate like Arizona, pedestrians seek protection from the sun from late spring through fall. For the other months of the year, people gravitate to filtered or direct sunlight to find a comfort zone in cooler temperatures. The most intense sunlight and temperature extreme in the Desert Southwest occur from May to September, from 12:00 noon to sunset. Shade cover can be provided by either an architectural feature or the canopy of a tree. Trees are recommended as the minimum acceptable protection in this climate. Safe Establish 50 percent shade along pedestrian routes and at gathering places for this intense period (or one 25-foot width canopy tree per 53 feet of sidewalk). Provide some shade year-round on the walkway. In areas that demographically have more elderly pedestrians, provide a minimum 75 percent continuous coverage in the intense summer period. Comfortable Provide 60 percent shade coverage along the walkway (or one 25-foot width canopy tree per 38 feet of walkway). Destination Provide 75 percent shade coverage or greater along the walkway (or one 25-foot width canopy tree per 30 feet of sidewalk). Shade can be achieved in several ways. Street trees are the most common method of providing shade along walkways. The type of shade provided - whether continuous or concentrated - depends on the orientation of a walkway (see graphic) and on how trees are distributed along it. Continuous shade is best achieved when trees are equally spaced. Concentrated shade is most appropriate at gathering places or nodes such as transit stops. Awnings and canopies are another excellent source of shade. Use the clearance minimums (see section on Clearance) when installing them. When selecting plant materials for shade, plants native to this region of Arizona or similar low-water use, desert plants should be used. See list at left for examples of native or low-water use trees. Native or Low-water Use Trees Mesquite (Prosopis sp.) Palo Verde (Cercidium sp.) Acacia (Acacia sp.) Ironwood (Olneya sp.) Desert Willow (Chilopsis sp.) Ebony (Pithecellobium sp.) Lysilomas (Lysiloma sp.)