02/01/2025
Happy Friday everyone! This morning it was my pleasure to help plant 30 lovely native trees of different varieties along the West Rail Trail over a distance of approximately 3 football fields!
Joining in the celebration were a group of children from Pullam Elementary and their teachers and parents…..each one of them with joyful smiles and each one of them racing to grab a shovel to help plant the tree.
These trees were purchased with $5000 granted by HEB for the specific purpose of planting more trees. Texan by Nature is a state wide program and the City of Brownsville was able to participate in a public-private partnership with them to win the grant. A public-private partnership means that the city works with a private company or source to provide more than they could alone…..leveraging assets is always the best way to provide more for our people. The Texan by Nature does not cover transit or streets or potholes or other needs ….. it covers trees as the name “Nature” describes.
In planning this project it was our good luck that a local nursery had the highest quality trees at fantastic retail prices. Yay! This location along the West Rail Trail was chosen because the most frequent request we hear from trail users (and our counts are over 250K per year) is for more shade. This location also had access to watering with ease which meant additional savings.
Our Forrester Hunter Lohse explained to the group that a variety of native trees were chosen for diversity and sustainability. The children and their parents and teachers were able to join Public Works staff in planting the first tree while Dusty (the BISD mascot) cheered us all on.
While we were thanking our partners and preparing, several groups of bicycle riders rolled by. In particular a group of senior men rode by and it warmed my heart to see their group of friends laughing and enjoying a pristine morning….. I am a senior too and as soon as my ankle is healed , I will be out there with them enjoying the fresh air while walking and bicycle riding!
Today’s tree planting will provide shade along the trail making it more pleasant to spend time on the trail. Trees create shade and shade cools the land under it. Trees filter pollutants from the air including carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Studies have shown that patients with views of trees out their windows heal faster with fewer complications. Children with ADHD show fewer symptoms when they have access to nature. Exposure to trees and nature improves concentration by reducing mental fatigue. Trees and greenspace invite people and families to be more active, foster butterflies and birds and a whole lot more!
Having said all of that…..it is also true that not all trees are the same. Today’s project is a straightforward planting of trees in a line along a trail. Other tree projects such as a Tiny Forrest are much more complex. Projects like that are planting a grouping of plants and trees intentionally to create an ecosystem. These projects often require special planning and special irrigation for the Forrest to thrive. Both types produce shade, cool the earth, filter pollutants, and create health and wellness……BUT they require very different resources and funding.
I am quite sure the City will continue to search for grants for trees as well as for streets and restoration and workforce training and everything in between. There is no grant that pays for everything. Each grant is specific to a topic and the money cannot be used for other purposes. The City Grant Dept was born 15 years ago and has done an exceptional job capturing funds for all sorts of purposes…..without their skill and commitment other communities would win the grants and the money would not come here.
Enjoy your weekend and try a trail or a park……absorb the joy of the greenspace and I dare you not to smile!
