11-21-2024 | greens bayou greens bayou coalition parks and trails tree planting volunteer

80+ Amazing Community Partners Join Greens Bayou Coalition’s Green Up Event to Plant Trees in North Houston

A large group of volunteers, wearing matching shirts and carrying tools like shovels, pose together for a group photo in an open parking area. "Greens Bayou Coalition" banners are held in the center, and trees and clouds frame the background.

Strong Turnout for Green Up Greens Bayou Event Leaves Organizers Thrilled

On Thursday, November 7th, 2024, the North Houston District joined the Greens Bayou Coalition, corporate partners, and local volunteers for the Green Up Greens Bayou tree planting initiative. A total of 80 people rolled up their sleeves, pulled on their gloves, and got to work to plant trees along the designated stretch of Greens Bayou. “We did not expect this many people!” shared Colleen Gilbert, the Coalition’s Executive Director.

Representatives from Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, DHL, Frost Bank, and other key community stakeholders were in attendance.

“The North Houston District has about eight miles of trails that we have built and maintained, and this particular section of trail along Greens Bayou does not have a lot of tree cover. And in the spring and summer and early fall, it gets pretty hot out here when you’re walking or biking. So the objective today is to help improve the tree canopy adjacent to the bayou,” said Robert Fiederlein, the North Houston District’s VP of Planning and board member for the Greens Bayou Coalition.

Volunteers met at the trailhead at Knobcrest Dr. and Greens Bayou, near the Houston Food Bank facilities. After demonstrations from the Harris County Flood Control District field team on how to properly remove the trees from their plastic containers, separate the root balls, pack and aerate the soil, and add mulch for optimal water retention, volunteers fanned out across 1.4 miles of trails on both sides of the bayou.

Moderate cloud cover lasted for the first 30 minutes or so, but volunteers powered through as the sun rose overhead. The group made quick work of this undertaking, completing work slated for four hours in only two hours!

A large group of volunteers wearing matching white t-shirts with red logos pose for a group photo in a parking lot. They stand behind a "Greens Bayou Coalition" sign and are smiling, holding tools like shovels and gloves.

A paved trail in a grassy area is shown with a "Knobcrest Dr" sign and a "No Motor Vehicles" sign in the foreground. The path is lined with small planted trees, and buildings are visible in the distance.

Three volunteers in white polo shirts stand next to a newly planted tree along a grassy path. Two volunteers high-five while holding shovels, smiling and celebrating their efforts.

Tim, a volunteer with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, commented, “This is a beautiful green space, I didn’t know we even had it out here. I learned that we still have a lot of work to do to plant more trees, and I even learned how to mulch trees properly, which was pretty cool.”

A group of volunteers in yellow shirts with "DHL" logos poses on a paved trail surrounded by grass. They hold shovels and stand behind a "Greens Bayou Coalition" sign, smiling under a cloudy sky.

Four volunteers stand together holding a "Greens Bayou Coalition" sign. They are outdoors on a grassy trail, wearing navy and green shirts, and smiling. A vehicle with large wheels is in the background.

Volunteers gather in a larger group near a paved path surrounded by grass and trees. Many are wearing matching shirts, and the background includes a building with loading docks.

Volunteers are gathered on a bridge in a natural setting. A photographer captures a group of people lined up along the railing, with trees and open fields in the background under a cloudy sky.

Laura Haines brought her two sons out to volunteer after crossing paths with the Greens Bayou Coalition several years ago at Trash Bash. “My kids volunteer with Texas 4H and we’re part of the Montgomery County 4H Shooting Sports Club, so we’re always looking for ways to have a positive impact in our community,” she explains.

Her oldest son J.D. is a Texas 4H Water Ambassador and has been a part of the stream team monitoring the water quality in Greens Bayou for about a year and a half. “When the Greens Bayou Coalition has volunteer activities, they contact us and say, ‘Hey, would you like to come out?’ So here we are! We’ve planted three trees so far today,” Haines tells us. She encourages other families in the area to get involved and help support the Coalition’s efforts.

Two adults and a child in blue shirts face away from the camera, standing next to a "Greens Bayou Coalition" sign. They are on a grassy trail, embracing and looking toward a natural landscape.

In just 2 hours, 80 volunteers planted 85 trees—50 fifteen-gallon and 35 thirty-gallon—along 1.4 miles of trails on Greens Bayou between I-45 and Greens Road.

Progress Through Partnership

The North Houston District is proud to partner with the Greens Bayou Coalition on this important initiative. An Environmental grant from H-E-B’s Our Texas Our Future and a Community Grant from H-E-B’s Trees For Texans program made this project possible. The trees were donated by Trees for Houston.

Greens Bayou Coalition’s vision is to continue to plant trees along Greens Bayou across Greens Road, from Wussow Park to Hardy Road—with an ambitious goal of planting almost 200 additional trees.

The Coalition has done several other plantings in the North Houston District, including two at Buckboard Park. Gilbert says like many other nonprofit organizations, the Greens Bayou Coalition needs donations, sponsorships, and volunteers. She invites the community and corporations in North Houston to rally for this important cause.

If you are an individual or an organization that would like to join future phases of the Green Up Greens Bayou project, please reach out to Colleen Gilbert at colleen.gilbert@greensbayou.org for more information.

Logos of Green Up Greens Bayou, North Houston District, Trees for Texans, Trees for Houston, and H-E-B’s Our Texas Our Future initiative, highlighting collaboration for environmental projects in the North Houston area.

A Note From the GBC Executive Director, Colleen Gilbert

On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors at Greens Bayou Coalition, we want to let you know that we are thankful for you — for sharing your time, talent and treasure with our organization, and helping to make life better for those who live, work and play within the Greens Bayou watershed.

On November 7th, 80 incredible volunteers came together during the Green Up Greens Bayou project to plant 85 trees along the stretch of the bayou between Knobcrest Drive and Greens Road in the Greenspoint area. The trees will provide shelter for wildlife, stop erosion, filter air and water and add shade and beauty along the hike/bike path that runs on either side of the bayou in that location.

Chances are you recognize an American Elm, Live Oak, Loblolly Pine or White Oak tree by the bayou when you see one. Native trees such as these are a key piece of our community and our ecosystems, and they, along with several others, were planted during this event. These trees have adapted to our unique climate, soil and local wildlife, making them resilient, long-term residents of this area.

Greens Bayou Coalition worked with North Houston District and Trees for Houston to plan and manage the planting, and was provided an environmental grant by H-E-B’s Our Texas Our Future, and a community grant from H-E-B’s Trees for Texans program to plant native trees that support local wildlife and provide clean air. We want to extend our sincere thanks to our partners and all of our hard-working volunteers.