The nonprofit Texas Tree Foundation recently learned it has secured $15 million through a competitive federal grant program to plant trees in Mill City, Fair Park and Wheatley Place. This is a big win for South Dallas, and not just because more trees will improve the quality of life for residents and help beautify the neighborhood. This significant investment in green space will also help address the urban “heat island” effect, where concrete and other man-made surfaces trap and re-release heat, raising temperatures to stifling levels.
With a grant from the U.S. Forest Service, the foundation plans to plant more than 1,000 trees over five years, said Christy Offenberger, senior manager of communications and marketing for the Texas Trees Foundation. Trees will be planted on land owned by partners, including open space, right-of-way, schools, and affordable housing developments. It will also be distributed to homeowners.
Offenburger said the project is still in the planning stages and the foundation will work with the city, community leaders and other partners to chart a path forward.
One of the main goals is to combat excessive heat. In cities, impermeable surfaces such as asphalt and concrete absorb and release a lot of heat. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, these “heat islands” are 1 to 7 degrees warmer during the day and 2 to 5 degrees warmer at night than surrounding areas.
South Dallas has historically under-invested in green space, “leading to massive amounts of concrete being poured into neighborhoods and neighborhoods, creating a serious urban heat island problem,” said Emily Plauche, Texas Urban Forestry Coordinator. says Mr. Trees Foundation.
Heat reduction is the main benefit of tree planting activities, but it is not the only one. Plauche said the foundation plans to work with local community gardening organizations to bring fruit-bearing trees to food deserts. While it won't solve the problem of food insecurity, community gardens can help a lot.
The foundation also plans to build several “pocket parks” in the area and will work with local residents to determine their needs when selecting potential sites, Plauche said.
Parks are public goods that everyone can enjoy, but once they are built, they require maintenance. The same applies to seedlings, which require frequent watering and care. The Texas Tree Foundation wants to partner with community organizations to ensure ongoing maintenance, Plauche said. This has been an effective strategy for other park projects in Dallas, and with careful planning, it could work here as well.
Dallas City Hall and its community partners must work strategically to ensure that new parks and other green spaces in South Dallas survive and thrive for generations to come.
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