Hayward Acres Had 9% Tree Canopy in County Map; Urban Forest Project Will Inventory Public Trees

HAYWARD ACRES, Calif. — Hayward Acres stands out in a tree-canopy table published by Alameda County Planning: it had an estimated 9% tree canopy in the underlying April 2023 vegetation map, lower than the other named urban unincorporated communities in that table.

What 9% means — and what it doesn’t

The county identifies Hayward Acres as a census tract within the larger San Lorenzo census-designated place for this comparison. The 9% figure is the percentage of ground covered by tree leaves, stems and branches when viewed from above. It should not be described as a fresh 2026 survey, nor as the tree-cover percentage for the entire San Lorenzo area, for which the county provides a separate 12% estimate.

By comparison, the same county map shows 11% for Ashland, 13% for Cherryland, 20% for Castro Valley overall and 32% for Fairview. Because these are geographic averages, the canopy along one individual Hayward Acres street may differ substantially from the area-wide estimate.

The county’s planning effort includes Hayward Acres

Alameda County says it was awarded a $685,000 grant in 2025 to prepare an urban forest strategy for Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, Hayward Acres and San Lorenzo. The effort began in March 2026 and is expected to run through March 2028. The plan is intended to guide future investment; publication of a plan is not the same as planting a promised number of trees on a specific block.

A public tree inventory is expected to document the species, size and condition of street trees and Hayward Area Recreation and Park District park trees. The county’s published schedule anticipates completing the inventory by the end of 2026 and making the data available in an interactive map. Readers should check for an updated schedule before relying on that projected completion date.

How residents can take part

The county describes workshops, hearings and other engagement opportunities for the urban forest plan. Residents can obtain current notices from the project information page and can review whether a tree is in a county right of way or on private land before seeking maintenance or planting work.

For Hayward Acres News, identifying the exact neighborhood rather than treating it as an unspecified part of Hayward or San Lorenzo is a central editorial priority. Records and corrections: california58com@gmail.com.

Source: Alameda County Planning, Trees and the Urban Forest; canopy data dated April 1, 2023, and county program schedule for 2026–2028.

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