Trees are Cool

On March 31, 2026, the University of Arizona SCORCH team and community gathered at the Lionel Rombach Gallery for the opening reception of the Greenspaces and Health Photovoice Exhibition. The exhibition featured photographs and reflections from a community-based Photovoice study exploring how greenspaces in Tucson shape health, well-being, and everyday life. In the Photovoice study, participants were engaged as researchers to 

The event brought together community members, photovoice researchers, and guests for an evening of networking, exhibition viewing, presentations, and discussion. As highlighted in the exhibition materials and presentation, the project aimed to better understand how greenspaces in desert environments may look and function differently, and how those differences affect health. The study used a community-engaged qualitative approach, including interviews and small group discussions with participants from heat-vulnerable, mosquito-prone, and low tree-equity areas in Tucson. 

Photographs and captions from 13 community researchers were presented in the exhibition, reflecting the many ways greenspaces support health, including peace, spirituality, beauty, family connection, physical activity, and mental well-being. At the same time, participants also drew attention to ongoing concerns related to safety, maintenance, exclusion, hostile design, and renovations that may reduce shade and usability. These reflections reinforced key project findings that maintenance matters, safety concerns shape how spaces are used, and preferences for greenspace can differ across communities and lived experiences. 

The exhibition offered a powerful example of how community voices can inform healthier, more inclusive, and more locally meaningful greenspace design in Tucson. It also created space for participants to share their lived experiences directly with the public, helping connect research, art, and community priorities in ways that can support future dialogue and action. A virtual version of the exhibition is available for viewing on the SCORCH website and exhibition site.