HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Trees For Houston has broken ground on a new permanent campus that expands the nonprofit’s capacity to distribute trees and offer educational programming.
The former rental storage site is being transformed into the Trees For Houston Kinder Campus on a 1.5-acre lot at 2001 W. 34th Street in Houston’s Oak Forest neighborhood.
Established in 1983, Trees For Houston has grown into a national model for urban forestry, planting more than 600,000 trees through community partnerships, volunteer efforts, and educational outreach.
Houston’s Goal – Plant 4.6 Million Trees By 2030
Trees For Houston plays a central role in the City of Houston’s Resilient Houston strategy and Climate Action Plan, which aim to plant 4.6 million trees over a decade. Trees distributed by the nonprofit will help restore and protect tree canopy, capture and store carbon, improve air quality, and reduce localized flooding.
“Trees are so much more than simple aesthetics – they provide shade, increase air quality, and lead to higher property values. Trees For Houston is a terrific partner in our quest to plant 4.6 million trees across the city by 2030, two trees for every resident,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The generosity of Chevron, the Kirkseys, the Bauer Family, and the Kinders is a testament to their dedication to our community and to realizing a sustainable future consistent with the Resilient Houston and Climate Action Plans.”
The new campus, designed by Kirksey Architecture and Lauren Griffith Associates with Forney Construction as contractor, incorporates sustainable design features. Planned green elements include a cistern to harvest rainwater for irrigation, permeable surfaces to replace concrete, and an onsite nursery to increase urban canopy and provide visible environmental benefit in the neighborhood.
To fund the permanent campus and administrative offices, Trees For Houston launched the $9 million Taking Root capital campaign. The campus bears the Kinder name in recognition of Nancy and Rich Kinder and their $3 million lead gift through the Kinder Foundation. Other major donors include Kyle and John Kirksey, Sr., who contributed $1 million toward the building; Chevron, which provided $750,000 for the onsite tree nursery; and combined gifts of $500,000 from the Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation and the C.T. Bauer Foundation to support the indoor/outdoor education center.
Major Plantings of 2021 Include:
In 2021, Trees For Houston carried out notable plantings with community partners, installing 11,971 trees in collaboration with organizations such as the City of Houston, Memorial Park Conservancy, Spark Park, Houston Arboretum, and the Houston Zoo. Volunteer plantings added another 14,029 trees in parks, schools, street and median plantings, bayous, trails, and tribute groves.
The recent groundbreaking ceremony took place against a backdrop representing the future tree nursery and featured remarks from Trees For Houston Executive Director Barry Ward; Kinder Foundation Chairman Rich Kinder; Taking Root co-chairs Sheila Condon and Larry Nettles; City of Houston Planning Director Margaret Wallace Brown; TFH Board President Kristopher Stuart; and TFH Chair Laura Mayer.
“We are proud to be part of this transformational moment for Trees For Houston as they break ground on a permanent campus. Over the last 40 years, Trees For Houston has built an amazing, highly effective organization. We look forward to watching as this new home further supports their mission of promoting and protecting trees in Houston for years to come,” said Nancy Kinder, President and CEO of the Kinder Foundation.
Consolidating operations into two primary tree farms will increase annual tree distribution by an estimated 20 percent in a single year. The Chevron Tree Nursery on the Kinder Campus will provide more efficient and convenient access to free and low-cost tree distribution for community members and partners during weekdays and weekends, replacing past restrictions tied to limited pick-up times and limited access to private nurseries.
“Our new Kinder Campus will be a game changer in so many ways,” said Ward. “It will allow Trees For Houston to significantly expand our mission to distribute and plant one million trees over the next 10 years in support of the Resilient Houston Plan, which recognizes the critical role trees play in making our city a healthier and more beautiful place for all residents. We will also be able to provide outstanding educational programming onsite and better engage our many volunteers.”
April 21, 2022 Realty News Report Copyright 2022
Images: Trees For Houston rendering by Kirksey Architecture and Lauren Griffith Associates
File: Trees For Houston Groundbreaking
File: Kinder. Trees For Houston Groundbreaking. 2001 W. 34th Street.