Texas Trees Foundation

The cool schools program connects students and teachers to nature by planting trees and creating fun and engaging outdoor experimental learning and play areas, which cultivate children's knowledge and awareness of the natural environment as well as promoting hands-on, outdoor environmental activities with steam-based urban forestry curriculum, so no child is left inside! The program goals for each school include increasing tree canopy coverage to at least 30 percent to reduce the urban heat island effect, supplying teachers with resources to educate students on urban forestry and environmental issues, and providing outdoor classrooms and amenities to encourage outdoor learning and play.

The southwestern medical district (swmd) streetscape and park projects are a public-private partnership between the texas trees foundation, swmd, city of dallas, north central texas council of governments, dallas county, and numerous private foundations and individuals. The projects will restore the environment to leverage the human health benefits of nature in an urban environment. Additionally, the project will create a campus experience that improves the quality of life for the district's 45,000 staff and 5 million visitors/patients by increasing community safety and offering an accessible multi-modal network that accommodates connectivity.