Following a $900,000 grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission – using money provided by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act – Trees Columbus’ vision for restoring the tree canopy in underserved parks takes root.
Project Coordinator Ava Dixon shows off her mulching skills.
In a city like Columbus, where the heat can feel like it’s coming off the pavement in waves by July, something as simple as a tree can make all the difference. From Lakebottom Park to River Road Elementary, Trees Columbus is helping the city breathe easier. For over 20 years this homegrown organization has been spearheading change in neighborhoods and areas that need it the most.
Trees Columbus has been working on a volunteer basis to protect Columbus’ tree canopy since 2000 when community members noticed those fluorescent, pink tags that mark trees for logging. After some tough questions and persistent follow-up, the hardwoods at Lakebottom Park in the Weracoba Heights neighborhood were saved. Those residents have never looked back, and Trees Columbus volunteers have planted over 20,000 trees in the years since.
Now, a new grant will supercharge the organization’s mission. As Kala Hunter reported for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Trees Columbus received “the second-largest Trees Across Georgia grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission.” The $900,000, provided by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, is part of a broader federal effort to ensure climate resilience reaches communities that have been historically left behind.
Speaking to Hunter, Dorothy McDaniel, the executive director of Trees Columbus, explained what the grant means for the organization. “We’ve done small plantings here and there and mainly volunteer-based,” she said, “but we’ve never been able to do anything like this before.”
“We’ve never been able to do anything like this before.” – Dorothy McDaniel, Executive Director, Trees Columbus
George Barker brings trees indoors – and into the classroom.
The Vital Role of Trees in Climate Protection
Trees are indispensable allies in the fight against extreme heat. In Columbus, the heat doesn’t just make you sweat—it hits your wallet too. During the summer, utility bills climb fast, especially in neighborhoods with few trees to provide shade. It’s not unusual for many families to see power bills spike to $300 or more just to keep a small home livable. But trees can help with that. Trees are easy to overlook, but they are hard at work. They keep our streets and parks coo. They’re also pulling carbon out of the air and putting fresh oxygen back in – just by growing.
But okay, we knew all that, right? How can that help on the level of an entire city? Well, trees fight what’s called the urban heat island effect – when streets, sidewalks, and parking lots soak up heat and make neighborhoods feel way hotter than they should. Shade trees cool the air by blocking sunlight and giving off moisture.
Even a small cluster can bring the temperature down, and across a city, that adds up to cooler streets, lower energy bills, and real relief in the summer. One study found that trees cooled urban neighborhoods by an average of 1.8°F (1.1°C), according to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) — and the more trees you plant, the bigger the impact and possible energy savings.
Another study by Caylie Sims, accessible by clicking on the photo below, compared the tree canopy coverage and temperatures of neighborhoods in several cities. The neighborhoods are labeled according to an old grading system (A-D) used during the “Urban Renewal” programs in the 1930s, which were notoriously racist. She found more trees and cooler temperatures in “A” neighborhoods (the ones labeled most valuable in the 1930s) and that the temperature differences in Columbus were wider than in any other Southern city.
Other Benefits
Trees improve air quality by filtering pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Their root systems enhance soil stability, reducing erosion and promoting groundwater recharge. In urban settings, trees contribute to stormwater management by reducing flooding.
These benefits fueled the “Stop Cop City” movement in Atlanta from 2021 to 2024. As one of the largest urban forests in the country, the South River Forest—which the Muskovee people called the Weelaunee Forest—was known as “one of the four lungs of Atlanta.” The city’s decision to bulldoze scores of acres will demonstrably worsen flooding and air quality in surrounding communities.
Finally, trees are an essential part of any local ecosystem. Animals live in them, and those animals contribute to the health of the plant life around them. If the old political saying “keep it simple, stupid” were about climate change, it would be about planting more trees.
Okay, but can planting trees really stop Climate Change?
No – not by themselves. Trees won’t reverse everything we’re facing with climate change. But they’re still one of the most powerful, low-cost ways to cool cities, clean the air, and protect communities from rising heat — especially in places like Columbus, where summer temperatures and utility bills hit hard.
Even NASA says trees are a key part of the solution. Sassan Saatchi, a senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, pointed to reforestation efforts in China that cut their carbon emissions by up to 30%. Here in the U.S., studies show that planting trees could lower annual emissions by 10 to 15%.
“China’s land use policy increased forest cover in southern China between 10 and 20 percent, turning these areas into intensely managed forests,” he said. “As a result, they created a carbon sink (an area that stores carbon) in their forests, almost doubling their carbon uptake. The effort has offset 20 percent of China’s annual fossil fuel emissions, and since 2012 that percentage has increased to 33 percent. So that’s a success story.”
Here at home, he also has reason for optimism. “A paper published a couple of years ago showed that reforestation could reduce U.S. annual carbon emissions from all sources by 10 to 15 percent. Imagine if we do that? It’s possible.”
Even if planting trees can’t completely mitigate the impacts of climate change, the price of inaction is too high to pay. We feel it in the sweltering heat, heavier storms, and the rising cost of keeping our homes cool. In neighborhoods without much shade, utility bills can skyrocket in the summer as air condition units run 24/7 to maintain a livable temperature indoors.
At the end of the day, the question isn’t, “Will this work?”
The question is, “Will this help?”
The “Grow Shade” Park Project
Since its inception in 2000, Trees Columbus has been unwavering in its mission to plant, preserve, and protect Columbus’s urban tree canopy. The organization’s small but dedicated staff, Ava Dixon, Candace Wayman, and Dorothy McDaniels, continue to invest in the future of their community – one planting at a time. Recognizing the multifaceted benefits of trees, the team has implemented numerous projects to enhance the city’s green infrastructure.
The $900,000 from the Inflation Reduction Act endows the “Grow Shade” Park Project. This four-year endeavor aims to restore and expand tree canopies in parks located within disadvantaged communities.
In its inaugural year, the “Grow Shade” project witnessed the planting of over 300 trees across several key locations, including Lakebottom Park, Carver Park, Shirley Winston Park, Theo McGee Park, and River Road Elementary. These efforts have not only beautified these spaces but have also laid the groundwork for enhanced climate resilience in the city.
Strategic Planning and Community Engagement
The success of Trees Columbus’s initiatives can be attributed to meticulous planning and robust community collaboration. The tree planting process is comprehensive, starting with initial site discussions with the Columbus Consolidated Government’s Parks and Recreation Department to post-planting maintenance. This way, each tree is planted in the best possible conditions and receives the care it needs to thrive.
The “Grow Shade” project deliberately includes a diversity of tree species. The organization has planted various varieties of oak, loblolly pine, longleaf pine, redbud, black gum (swamp tupelo), crabapple, and sycamore. This diversity enhances the resilience of the urban forest, ensuring that the canopy can’t be wiped out by a single pest or disease, or changing climate conditions.
Community involvement is also central to Trees Columbus’s approach. By organizing educational events and volunteer opportunities, the organization fosters a sense of ownership and stewardship among residents. This amplifies the impact of their projects and cultivates a community-wide appreciation for the environmental and social benefits of urban forestry.
Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead
Despite the successes, Trees Columbus has faced challenges. In early 2024, the organization was awarded a significant grant to plant and maintain 500 trees across Columbus. However, federal funding freezes cast doubt on the continuation of this grant, highlighting the uncertainties that can accompany reliance on external funding sources.
No matter what happens, Trees Columbus remains committed to its mission. The organization continues to seek alternative funding avenues and partnerships to ensure the sustainability of its projects. Community support in terms of volunteering and financial contributions will be instrumental in overcoming these hurdles.
The Broader Implications of Urban Forestry
The endeavors of Trees Columbus underscore the critical role of urban forestry in building climate-resilient cities. As urban areas continue to expand and face the brunt of climate change impacts, integrating green infrastructure becomes not just beneficial but essential.
Trees are cheaper than new technologies, and they help in a lot of different ways. They provide shade, improve air quality, manage stormwater, and enhance biodiversity. Furthermore, green spaces have been linked to improved mental health and social cohesion, making them invaluable assets for urban communities.
The work of Trees Columbus might not grab national headlines, but it doesn’t have to. What’s happening in Lakebottom Park, Carver Park, and other areas in what real grassroots climate action looks like. It’s local, it’s rooted, and making a difference – because it’s led by the people who live there. Faces of Resilience: Trees Columbus takes root in The Fountain City
