San Antonio Branching Out its Tree Planting Efforts

The city of San Antonio has a lot of money to spend on trees but not a lot of places to plant them.

1 minute read

November 7, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Texas

AbeSnap23 / Shutterstock

"A pool of money started by San Antonio more than 20 years ago to address the loss of trees that are cut down for new development has grown substantially in recent years," reports Scott Huddleston.

A 1997 ordinance created the fund, which receives funding when developers remove trees without replacing them. Funding has increased from $241,630 in 2006 to $753,197 in 2012 to $2.48 million, according to Huddleston.

Now the city is looking for places to plant trees with all that cash, after having maxed out space in the city's parks. The homes of big organizations, like college and university campuses, are the first places the city is looking. "The Parks and Recreation Department also is planting trees at San Antonio Housing Authority properties, along Martinez and Apache creek greenways and in association with inner-city homes assisted through the Under 1 Roof residential roof repair program," adds Huddleston.

Monday, November 5, 2018 in San Antonio Express-News

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

Geese flock to a frozen pond in Aurora, Colorado. There are houses in the background.

Colorado’s Largest Data Center Could Rise Next to Homes — Without a Public Hearing

The proposed campus would consume 11 times the power of Denver International Airport; as it has across the country, opposition mounts.

September 17, 2026 - Capital & Main

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

15 minutes ago - Inside Climate News

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh delivers remarks at his swearing-in ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

Raised interest rates may kill financially vulnerable construction projects

The chief economist at ConstructConnect warns that if construction project owners are negatively impacted by the raised rates, it could result in delayed payments to contractors.

2 hours ago - Construction Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.