Friends of Highland Village Parks report planting 40 trees and plan more fundraising

Dave Rush, board chairman of the Friends of Highland Village Parks Foundation, updated the Parks board on Nov. 17 about the nonprofit’s tree-planting work since incorporation in January 2022. Rush said volunteers planted dozens of trees in recent years and that the foundation coordinated partnership plantings (including 20 trees around Unity Park in November and a prior 12-tree replacement along Bridal Hill Boulevard). “We planted 40 trees, so we’re pulling out 2,000 pounds or a ton of carbon,” Rush said, sharing volunteer participation and modest costs for some plantings.

The foundation plans to keep raising funds and pursuing grants to expand reforestation and preserve mature specimen trees; Rush asked the board and staff to continue to coordinate irrigation and site selection as future signs and planting locations are identified. Staff confirmed city crews have installed irrigation on newly planted rows and will support maintenance.