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McAllen wins $2.7 million grant to create seven schoolyard forests; city and MISD to expand greening
Summary
City staff and partners described a Texas A&M Forest Service $2.7 million grant to install seven schoolyard forests in McAllen, aiming to raise tree canopy on selected campuses from about 11% to 30% with construction targeted for completion in 2027 and a $50,000 planning grant to design additional schools.
A city presenter (Colleen) told the McAllen City Commission on May 27 that the city and McAllen Independent School District have secured a $2,700,000 grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service to install seven schoolyard forests on elementary campuses and related outdoor-learning amenities.
"The goal is to improve environment, education, and mental health for the students," the presenter said, noting the grant covers seven campuses selected by the grantor using a Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool and that the grant aims to raise each campus' tree canopy from about 11% to roughly 30%.
Andrew Hefner of the Heffner Design Team, the landscape architect on the project, described the standard package of elements to be installed at each campus: a tiny forest (pocket forest), trails, interpretive signage tailored to student age, a budding-botanist area, a tiny library, natural play features, a cultural wikiup and an outdoor amphitheater ("learning hill"). Hefner said plans were developed through site charrettes with school principals, teachers and school-safety staff to place amenities where they would be most useful and where existing shade and circulation supported them.
The presenter said the project schedule moves from design development into construction documents and that the construction timeline is estimated to finish installations across the seven campuses in 2027. She said the grantor selected the seven schools using a tool that prioritized low tree canopy and income characteristics. The presenter also said the program includes funds for teacher workshops and curriculum development.
Colleen and Hefner emphasized operations and maintenance as central to success. Parks and Recreation will manage amenities that fall inside the city-maintained City School Park zone, and McAllen ISD will maintain amenities inside school-maintained zones under amended memoranda of understanding, the presenter said. To plan more widely, the city also secured a $50,000 planning grant from Children & Nature Network to develop conceptual plans and budgets for the 11 remaining elementary schools; those concept plans are intended for consideration in MISD's master plan update.
Project partners listed in the presentation included McAllen ISD staff (including Lorena Garcia, business and operations), the Heffner Design Team, Texas A&M Forest Service, Children & Nature Network and local growers. The presenter highlighted native-species plantings (examples cited included poma, cedar elm, Texas ebony and Turk's cap) and said 100% native plants will be used to provide cooling, stormwater benefits and habitat for pollinators.
Andrew Hefner presented site-level drawings showing asphalt reductions at several campuses and specified tree counts tied to the 30% canopy goal. Commissioners praised the program as a long-term investment in student health, enrollment and attendance but asked staff to ensure clear operational responsibilities and training for maintenance staff.
No formal vote or contractual action was taken at the workshop; staff presented the designs and said they will present the materials to the McAllen ISD Board of Trustees the following day and proceed to construction documents this summer.
