It looks like the latest Hance Park Newsletter addresses the lack of trees in the current redevelopment.
“ADDRESSING TREE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE PARK
The City of Phoenix has partnered with HargreavesJones, an award-winning international architecture firm, to lead the redevelopment of Hance Park. As part of the project, the firm engaged a team of local and national subconsultants to evaluate the existing park, including the trees. That team includes Norris Design, a local landscape architecture firm, and Olsson Associates, a soils specialist.
The team evaluated the existing trees, the soil’s organic capacity to support tree growth, soil depths relative to the freeway tunnel deck the park sits on top of and the existing irrigation system. The evaluation showed that planting soil is in generally good condition, but is shallow and not in sufficient quantity to provide substantial support to trees.
As a result, as Hance Park is redeveloped, it will be planted with trees that are placed in adequate soil depth and in soil that is organically appropriate to support new trees. Additionally, trees will have dedicated irrigation that will help roots to grow within the soil profile available above the deck. Unfortunately, these are advantages that trees located in areas of the park that have yet to be redeveloped do not currently have.
Until such time as the Hance Park Revitalization Project can be fully realized, certified arborists that are part of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department staff will continue to closely monitor the existing trees. Department staff has also developing a tree removal and planting plan for the park.”
https://www.phoenix.gov/parkssite/Do...Newsletter.pdf