CENTRO SAN ANTONIO AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PLANT THE FUTURE WITH GOAL OF 1,000 NEW TREES BY 2036 IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Centro San Antonio, in partnership with the City of San Antonio, has launched the TreesEverywhere Project, a long-term initiative to plant 100 trees annually over the next decade across Downtown San Antonio.
Focused on expanding the urban tree canopy, reducing heat, and strengthening climate resilience, the initiative addresses one of downtown’s most pressing challenges: limited shade. Grounded in a commitment to shade equity, the project prioritizes areas most impacted by extreme heat and low canopy coverage, with initial locations informed by Centro’s 2022 downtown shade study.
By 2036, the initiative aims to introduce 1,000 new trees into the urban core, creating cooler, more walkable streets while supporting downtown’s continued growth for residents, businesses, and visitors.
The project is driven by a collaborative public-private partnership. The City of San Antonio provides critical coordination and implementation support to ensure long-term success. Additional support comes through Centro’s ongoing partnership development, with significant funding from the Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation, including a dedicated watering truck. Additional partners include H-E-B, Affinius Capital, and Amegy Bank.
Centro has also committed to maintaining and watering trees during the program’s first three years, helping ensure long-term sustainability as the initiative expands.
“Downtown is changing, and we need to make sure we’re keeping up,” said Trish DeBerry, President and CEO of Centro San Antonio. “We want downtown to be walkable year-round, because that’s what it means to be welcoming. Heat is something people have simply learned to live with, but it doesn’t have to be that way. These trees will create shade, comfort, and a better experience for everyone who spends time downtown.”
“Downtown San Antonio is on the cusp of transformation, and this is exactly the kind of investment that helps us get it right,” said Shanon Miller, Chief Downtown Officer with the City of San Antonio. “As downtown grows, we have an opportunity to make it cooler, more walkable, and more welcoming. Planting trees may seem simple, but it makes a real difference in how people experience downtown every day. This is about creating a healthier, more resilient urban core that works better for residents, workers, and visitors.”
“Projects like Trees Everywhere demonstrate how universities and cities can work together to ensure our urban core remains a thriving place where our community can learn, work, and gather in a welcoming and comfortable environment” said Andrea Marks, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at UT San Antonio.
The Trees Everywhere Project officially launched Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at The University of Texas at San Antonio at San Pedro I, where City officials, community partners, and stakeholders gathered to unveil the initiative.
The kickoff included the debut of the program’s dedicated watering truck and the planting of new trees at UT San Antonio, along with media opportunities highlighting the project’s long-term vision and impact.
For more information and updates, visit the Trees Everywhere Project official site: Trees Everywhere Official Page