This summer has certainly made Houston area residents aware of the issues related to extreme heat! But some neighborhoods deal with higher heat impacts than others. Neighborhoods with less tree cover, less greenspace, and more paved surfaces get hotter and retain that heat longer. In August 2020 the Houston Harris Heat Action Team (H3AT) did a study to identify the locations in the area that are most impacted by high heat levels.
Greener Gulfton
One such neighborhood that was identified is the Gulfton area in southwest Houston. Heat levels there measured significantly higher.
To address the heat impacts there, a new plan has been developed by The Nature Conservancy, in conjunction with local leaders and community members in Gulfton, which aims to address these disparities. Called Greener Gulfton, the plan contains a series of nature-based projects for the neighborhood designed to reduce heat, mitigate flooding, and increase access to nature in the community. Details about the plan are covered in the references linked below.
The Greener Gulfton Community Action Plan:
Greener-Gulfton-Community-Summary_English.pdf (houstonpublicmedia.org)
Alief Linear Forest
Another neighborhood identified as having higher heat impacts is Alief in west Houston. Alief is reported to only have an 11% tree canopy, compared to a Houston average of 33%. based on information from the Harris County Office of County Administration. Areas of Alief can be more than 10 degrees hotter than other areas of Houston on the same day. Studies have indicated that overall crime rates are higher following an increase in daily maximum temperature, and this relationship appears stronger in low-income neighborhoods.
To address the problems there, back in April, Harris County Commissioners Court approved $2 million in funds for the design and installation of trees via the Alief Linear Forest Project. This Linear Forest Project will plant 1,200 trees over 17 miles of public rights-of-way, with at least 100 20-feet trees being planted by 2025. This initiative is part of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Program, which addresses blight, vacant lots, and the like in order to reduce the spaces that foster crime. Refer to articles linked below for more information.
Alief to get a more dense tree canopy - Axios Houston
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design:
Note: Precinct 4 is using American Rescue Plan Act funding as part of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design initiative to plant these trees, citing a Journal of Public Economics study that found an increase in temperature is connected to increases in crime.
For questions or comments on this topic, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com