TreeParker

TreeParker is an underground system designed to help trees reach a healthy maturity in urban environments. Installed beneath paved surfaces, it provides trees with sufficient root space, air, water, oxygen, stability and an optimised soil composition. At the same time, the paving remains fully supported, the system withstands the heaviest traffic loads, and space is available for integrating underground utilities. This allows trees to develop successfully in locations where this would otherwise be difficult, such as busy streets, public squares and roadsides. TreeParker combines green, grey and blue infrastructure in one practical solution.

TreeParker is used in locations with paving and intensive use, such as city centres, shopping streets, squares, car parks, roads and area developments. In these environments, the subsurface is often limited, compacted or filled with cables and utilities. As a result, tree roots do not always receive the space and quality they require. TreeParker enables trees to be sustainably integrated into public spaces without compromising accessibility, functionality or appearance.

For healthy development, trees need sufficient underground space. Roots must be able to grow in soil with adequate oxygen, water and nutrients. TreeParker creates these conditions by providing space beneath the paving for loose, high-quality soil.

Because the soil is not compacted, roots can develop more effectively. Root guidance is applied to direct roots in the desired direction, preventing damage to paving and conflicts with other underground infrastructure.

TreeParker supports local water management in urban environments. The system can be connected to a gully, allowing rainwater to be collected and infiltrate into the soil. This improves tree access to water, especially during dry periods. At the same time, the system helps reduce pressure on the sewer system during heavy rainfall. This makes TreeParker well suited to climate-adaptive designs, where both flooding and drought are important considerations.

In urban environments, soil is often under pressure from traffic, paving and intensive use. This leads to compaction, which is detrimental to tree roots. Compacted soil contains less air and absorbs water less effectively. TreeParker prevents this by taking on the load from above with a strong load-bearing structure. The system supports even the heaviest traffic loads, ensuring that the soil remains loose and suitable for healthy root development.

Subsurface infrastructure such as cables, pipes and other utilities is often present underground, making the design of effective tree pit layouts complex. TreeParker has a modular structure, allowing it to be adapted to the available space and technical context. Its open structure makes it possible to accommodate existing and new infrastructure. Maintenance or modifications can also be carried out more easily without unnecessarily disturbing the growing environment.

TreeParker is relevant for municipalities, property developers, landscape architects, urban planners, civil engineers and contractors working on sustainable, green and future-proof public spaces. For these stakeholders, TreeParker offers a reliable solution for successfully integrating trees into complex urban environments. It is also valuable for asset managers, as healthy trees result in fewer maintenance issues, are more resilient to urban conditions, and perform more sustainably in the long term.

For optimal results, it is important to include TreeParker at an early stage of the design process. By considering root space, water capture and underground infrastructure from the outset, a more efficient and sustainable design can be achieved. The modular nature of the system allows the tree pit layout to be tailored to the location, tree species and technical requirements of the project. This prevents costly adjustments later and contributes to a future-ready public space.

TreeParker has been implemented worldwide in a wide range of projects. Along the Pearling Path in Bahrain, trees have been planted in extreme heat conditions, while near the Eiffel Tower in Paris trees are located in an area frequented by millions of visitors each year. In the Netherlands, TreeParker has been applied in projects such as the redevelopment of the Coolsingel in Rotterdam. The system is also used to preserve valuable existing trees, such as in the revitalisation of an approximately 450-year-old lime tree in Massemen. These examples demonstrate that TreeParker contributes to sustainable tree growth in a wide variety of conditions.