Sustainable Neighborhoods is planting sidewalk trees on Burnet, Lamar, Anderson, Airport and 2222.  Each tree we plant makes these commercial streets a better fit for our neighborhoods. Trees encourage more walkers and bikers, who in turn sustain more neighborhood-friendly businesses. More walking and biking also reduces area traffic congestion. People passing through our neighborhoods see a place that is green and friendly, not just along residential streets but along the commercial arterials as well.

 

These are challenging places to establish trees. Normally there is no water near the right-of-way. Most of our project funds go to assure the trees get weekly watering during the first couple of years until they are established. During the drought of 2010-2011, SN kept 100% of its trees alive through consistent hand-watering.

 

 

 

HOW TO HELP

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ADOPT A TREE.  Promise us that you will water the tree for the first two years, and we'll plant it!  We're particularly interested in places near bus stops and intersections, since these are where people walk the most. If we get one person to commit, it becomes easier to find other people who will agree to form a team. Email trees@snaustin.org.

 

PLANT A TREE.  Email trees@snaustin.org to let us know that you would be interested in coming out to help plant trees in October and March, our two planting seasons.

 

FEED THE FUND.  It takes green to grow green. DONATE ONLINE, or write a check to 'Sustainable Neighborhoods' and mail to 6811 Daugherty, Austin TX 78757.  SN is not yet a tax-exempt organization - but we hope to finalize the paperwork in 2012.

 

NAME A TREE.  For $100, or $20 and a pledge to water for two years, we'll dedicate a tree to your family-member or friend, (or whatever name you like, as long as it's not obnoxious). We'll create a page on our website for your tree with any comments you'd like to add.

 

 

 

 

 

We will plant shade trees wherever we can get funding and watering arranged.  Otherwise, we are focusing on the following priorities:

 

1. Bus stops, and routes to bus stops.

2. Intersections.

3. Places where there is enough unpaved right-of-way at least 10 ft from utility lines, since this is where we can plant medium or large trees that provide more shade.

 

 

 

1. 7700 block of Burnet (Allandale), in front of Northcross Mall parking lot.  We can plant about 16 large trees along this stretch.  It will help with traffic calming, screening an ugly parking lot, and shading a future sidewalk to a rapid bus station to be built in 2013. Planting trees here gives us an edge in lobbying for the City to fill in sidewalk gaps, which they need to do anyway because of the rapid bus station.

 

2. Koenig at Grover (Brentwood).  Trees at this intersection would shade a bus stop and a major bike crossing, in particular for students going to McCallum. Conditions are favorable because there is unpaved right of way unobstructed by utility lines close to the intersection.

 

 

 

 

In the future, SN may organize other kinds of projects that contribute to the safety and attractiveness of our commercial streets. An example might be functional art projects near rapid transit stations.  Functional art identifies the place as a part of our neighborhood, while providing seating, wind-blocks, or something that kids can safely play with. We would like to work with local businesses to improve outdoor dining or gathering places.  If you have ideas for things that will make these streets a part of our neighborhood, send them to info@snaustin.org.