Rio Reforestation set for Oct. 18 at Milagro Track; organizers seek volunteers and school participation

At the July meeting of the Keep Pharr Beautiful Advisory Board, Lara De La Garza announced a save-the-date for a Rio Reforestation event on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Milagro Track. De La Garza told board members the event will run roughly 8 a.m. to noon and that volunteers are needed to plant about 500 plants. The City of Pharr is a named partner and staff said they expect PSJA school buses and multiple city departments to participate.

Organizers said the city coordinated logistics with the special events office and will provide shade structures, trash and recycling trailers and on-site food for participants. Parks staff said they expect a large turnout; last year the city exceeded a 300-plant target and reported as many as 500'600 participants. De La Garza said the event draws social-media attention and that national-level offices in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have recognized the restoration work as a conservation event.

Speakers emphasized the event's habitat connectivity goals: staff said reforestation plantings are intended to restore native habitat and support local wildlife, including species the presenters characterized as federally listed or of conservation concern in the Rio Grande Valley. The Parks team said they are working with media for pre-event outreach and will produce flyers, a short video and social postings to increase participation.

De La Garza asked board members and volunteers to mark their calendars and contact Parks staff with questions about arrival times and staging areas at the Milagro Track site.