🌿 Help Us Grow the Next Chapter of the Shade Project

Picture a summer day along the Heights Hike and Bike Trail—the sun blazing, the pavement radiating heat, and little relief in sight. Now imagine that same trail lined with thriving trees, clear signage to guide your way, a welcoming trailhead at Yale Street, and a community garden blooming with life. This is the future we’re building together, and we need your help to make it happen.

My name is Emmanuel, and for the past three years I’ve been working with neighbors, volunteers, and local partners to transform the Heights trail into a cooler, greener, and more connected space. Thanks to incredible community support, we planted 200 native trees last year along a barren stretch of the trail. Those trees are alive, thriving, and already starting to bring shade and comfort to trail users.

But the work doesn’t stop there. That’s why we’re raising $10,000 right now.

Why We Need Your Help

This next phase of our effort will:

• 💧 Support more watering to ensure every young tree survives Houston’s harsh summers.

• 🚲 Install a trailhead at Yale Street with maps and signage to connect more people to the trail network.

• 📊 Add a bike & pedestrian counter to collect open data and show city leaders how many Houstonians rely on safe, shaded trails.

• 🌱 Expand the Railroad Garden initiative, creating more raised beds, pollinator habitat, and gathering space for neighbors.

• 🌳 Launch an Adopt-a-Tree program, giving supporters the chance to directly sustain the trees they helped plant.

How You Can Help

Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to our $10,000 goal. Just $20 helps water and maintain one tree, keeping the Shade Project strong for years to come.

If you can’t donate, you can still make a difference by sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can grow a legacy of shade, safety, and community connection along the Heights trail.

Thank you for helping us keep Houston’s trails cool, green, and welcoming for generations to come.

👉 Donate Today: www.atotb.org/shade