Guiding Principles
In consideration of Tree Board and citizen input and the advice of urban foresters, engineers and landscape architects, the following overarching principles are outlined to guide the creation and implementation of the Street Tree Master Plan.

• In view of the many years required for tree growth, healthy native trees should be conserved in creating beautiful streetscapes.
• Space should be reserved, or reclaimed where necessary, for tree planting along the city’s streets and highways.
• Native species should be planted in implementing the street tree plan.
• A variety of species should be planted to avoid losing significant proportions of the urban forest to blight or insect infestation.
• An aesthetic balance should be sought along streetscapes whereby trees are planted to attain similar proportions and spacing on each side of a street or highway.
• Evergreens should be planted along the various major thoroughfares, particularly to enhance winter scenery.
• A proper tree should be matched to street and highway circumstances, avoiding problems in creating pedestrian and traffic hazards.
• Smaller tree species should be planted under or nearly under overhead utility lines to avoid conflicts with electrical and related wires; larger trees should be planted as a backdrop, away from wires.
• Invasive trees, kudzu and other non-native vegetation that threatens the health and appearance of Knoxville’s urban forest should be removed.
• In creating streetscapes, sidewalks should be shaded by deciduous trees and separated from traffic lanes. Shade trees should be planted between sidewalks and roadways on local streets. For thoroughfares, separation is particularly needed for pedestrian comfort and safety; the landscape design and location of sidewalks are dependent upon the attributes of each corridor, including highway design speed, topography and width of planting strips.
• Balance public tree planting, choosing different street corridors and different neighborhoods in each section of the city as annual tree planting programs are developed.