Shade: A Tree Planting Project
Bringing comfort, safety, and dignity to our trails—one tree at a time.
Active
Why it matters
Houston summers are brutal, and dangerous for pedestrians. Many of our most-used trails lack tree canopy, especially along our bayous and the rail-to-trail projects. Shade should not be a luxury. It’s vital infrastructure for comfort, health, and walkability.
The best part about it? It does not take long to build beautiful forests.
It started with 15 free trees and a few buckets of water. We navigated permits, got community buy-in, and began daily hand-watering. Over 200 trees later, our trail is transforming—and so is how people feel walking here.
248 trees in our care, as of October 2026
1,300 linear feet of trail transformed
$23,560 raised from the community
100+ volunteers and counting
Planting plans
Timeline
Done
Summer 2022
15 free trees
It started with 15 free trees and a few buckets of water, from a free tree giveaway by Trees for Houston.
Done
March 2023
The first planting day
With Livelihood and about a dozen volunteers, we planted 26 trees along a 200-ft segment of the Heights Hike and Bike Trail.
Done
Sep 2024
Shade launches
A Tale of Two Bridges launches initiative to plant 200 trees along the Heights Hike and Bike Trail (The Leader, Sep 9, 2024)
Done
June 2025
The final planting wave
The final planting wave came in June 2025. It was the hottest time of year, but we were prepared. We brought in 20 large-caliber statement trees, with several of them as big as 65 gallons.
Done
Feb 14, 2026
A Miyawaki forest
A group of neighbors and volunteers gathered at the Yale Trailhead to plant a native micro-forest using the Miyawaki method. See the Miyawaki Forest
Done
May 16, 2026
Day of Service
Volunteers with the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline at the Miyawaki Forest.
Next
Tree care
With the plantings complete, we’re turning our attention to stewardship and sustainability. We’re now working with the Rotary Club Skyline District to build out a forestry management system, including a full tree inventory and ongoing health monitoring.
Gallery
How to help
Volunteer
We are actively seeking volunteers to establish our forestry management system. Whether you live close or far, sign up here to get email updates!
Donate
Please consider donating to this effort. We need your help to transform our community into a thriving green space. Your generous donation will enable us to plant wildflowers, grow our urban forest with 122 five-gallon trees, 54 ten-gallon trees, 27 fifteen-gallon trees, and prepare the soil with quality compost.
Additionally, your support will help us secure tree guards and watering solutions to ensure the health and longevity of these young trees. By contributing, you’re not just helping us beautify the environment but also fostering a sense of community as local residents come together to participate in planting and maintenance efforts. Every dollar brings us closer to a greener, healthier neighborhood.
In the press
Funders and partners
Thank you for the generosity to our funders and partners.
