Big tree plan takes root in downtown San Antonio
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Crews planted trees near UT San Antonio's San Pedro I campus as part of the launch. Photo: Courtesy of Centro San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio is set to get a lot more shade by 2035 through a new program aiming to plant 1,000 trees.
Why it matters: Expanding the tree canopy can reduce extreme heat and create a greener, more walkable downtown.
The latest: The Trees Everywhere Project launched Tuesday. Led by Centro San Antonio in partnership with the city, crews planted new trees near UT San Antonio's San Pedro I Campus.
- "By strategically planting trees downtown, we're not only improving comfort and safety, we're also strengthening climate resilience, improving air quality, reducing energy use, and supporting public health," Centro says online.
State of play: Downtown San Antonio's Tree Equity Score — measuring how equitably tree coverage reaches vulnerable communities — ranges from 66 to 72, placing it in a high-priority category for additional planting.
What's next: The first planting zone will cover just under a square mile, focusing on areas with little existing shade, Jacqueline Lucio, Trees Everywhere Project manager, tells Axios.
- Planting sites will be chosen using data on tree coverage, heat, infrastructure and foot traffic, guided by Centro's 2022 Shade Study and 2025 Downtown Tree Potential for Sidewalks Report.
- Centro will use a dedicated watering truck to help the trees take root and stay healthy.
Of note: Centro is offering tree sponsorship opportunities.