Mayor Announces $15K Donation For Tucson Million Trees Project

Tucson AZ

05 May, 2021

1:23 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Tucson: May 5, 2021 On this Arbor Day, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero announced a $15,000 dollar donation from Swire Coca-Cola, USA to the Tucson Million Trees campaign. The dollars from the local Coca-Cola bottler and distributor will be used to plant 300 trees on a 10,000 square-foot vacant city-owned parcel in the Barrio Centro neighborhood. This area was identified because of its low tree canopy and heat vulnerability using the City of Tucson's Tree Equity Score . The project will also include beautification improvements and green stormwater infrastructure features to provide a sustainable source of water for the trees. Community engagement with neighborhood residents will be conducted during the summer to collectively develop the project design, with a tree planting tentatively set for early October during the beginning of tree-planting season. "My thanks to Swire Coca-Cola for stepping up with this generous donation that will help cool the Barrio Centro neighborhood and provide a new community greenspace," said Mayor Romero. "This is a great example of how the public and private sectors can work together to act on climate. Climate change is a crisis that affects each and everyone of us, and it will take all of us working together to overcome and build resiliency." "Swire Coca-Cola, USA is committed to the sustainable development of our company and the stewardship of our planet," said Mike Luna, Sales Center Manager for Swire Coca-Cola, USA in Tucson. "We are thrilled to support Mayor Romero and the City of Tucson to reduce heat vulnerability and enhance our local community." "We all have a role to play to cool and beautify our community from residents to city government and businesses," said Council Member Richard Fimbres. "I applaud Swire Coca-Cola for investing in Barrio Centro, a Ward 5 neighborhood that will greatly benefit from increased natural shade." This press release was produced by the City of Tucson. The views expressed here are the author's own.