Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tree Canopy Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City of Pharr awarded $1.18 million Texas A&M grant to expand tree canopy, plans 6,000–10,000 plantings
Summary
Parks staff told the advisory board the city received a $1,180,000 Texas A&M Community Transformation Grant to expand tree canopy over three years, with plans for 6,000 to 10,000 tree plantings and potential new staff positions.
At the July advisory board meeting, Parks staff reported the City of Pharr was awarded a $1,180,000 Texas A&M Community Transformation Grant to expand tree canopy over a three-year period. Staff said the grant will fund tree plantings, giveaways and workshops and may support new positions such as a city forester and a community engagement coordinator.
Staff described the grant as a multi-component effort: large-scale plantings, distribution of trees to residents and public workshops (with many planned in Spanish). The Parks presenter said she used GIS tools, the Tree Equity Score and geospatial analysis to select priority planting sites and expects the grant to support between 6,000 and 10,000 trees in Pharr.
Speakers said the contract is expected to be brought forward in August and to the city commission at the upcoming meeting for final approval. Parks staff noted the grant could create local job opportunities tied to planting and maintenance and will include outreach to increase canopy in neighborhoods with low existing tree cover. The board congratulated staff and asked for continued updates on implementation timing and community engagement.
