Alan Williams works with cities and schools in developing native habitats and will cut to the chase and ask local leaders what they’re willing to invest in green spaces. 

“Something I’ve talked to city managers and parks directors about is to be honest with ourselves and look at the time public works departments spend on tree care,” said Williams, who is the landscaping and gardening director for the Region One Education Service Center. “Why aren’t our maintenance crews spending more time on tree care? It takes some knowledge and training in knowing what to do with trees.”

Williams is an energetic and passionate advocate for putting more native trees and plants into the ground at city parks, hike-and-bike trails, and school campuses in the Rio Grande Valley. He is often seen at city and school events offering his insights about the importance of trees and native habitats. Williams leads workshops and training sessions in sharing his knowledge on fostering sustainable and drought-tolerant green spaces in South Texas.

“Everyone, whether they know it or not, or will admit to it, feels better and more calm in an area with lots of trees,” Williams said.

Spreading The Word

In late February, Williams was spreading the word about trees in Mercedes as the city celebrated being the recipient of a 600-trees grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service. 

The grant is being administered by Williams and Region One, which is Edinburg-based and acts as a liaison between the Texas Education Agency and area communities and school districts. Mercedes is one of seven Valley cities that are receiving trees from Texas A&M as part of the grant. In all, 5,000 native trees are being provided to Mercedes, Alton, Mission, Edinburg, Donna, Harlingen and San Benito.

Williams’ role is to work with park directors like Armando Villela in Mercedes in ensuring the right kinds of trees are planted in the right places and are cared for properly. The issuance of trees from Texas A&M to RGV communities was done after cities demonstrated a commitment to maintain and nurture the trees to growth and good health.

“This is not a free tree grant that is being given out,” Williams said. “If cities wanted to participate, they had to show an improvement in tree care and maintenance policies.”

Mercedes, like many Valley cities, is considered to have an insufficient number of trees in its communities. Villela said the grant of 600 trees to be planted at city parks and along walking trails and playgrounds will make his community greener and wiser in appreciating native habitat.

“We’re a little deficient when it comes to tree canopies,” Villela said at an event held on the grounds of the Mercedes Dome Shelter. “We are trying to spread awareness on how to do proper tree care planting and care. It’s about beautification for our city, in planting these trees and what we can do for future generations.”

‘Going To Take A Few Years’

In San Benito, Williams was doing the same recently in providing guidance in the planting of trees at two parks, including along the walking trails lining the city’s main resaca.

He explained the intricacies of a tree’s roots system to a young child as a hole freshly dug awaited the sapling. Other children and their parents gathered around as Williams talked about trees and what it will mean in the years ahead to have more trees at city parks.

“We put an emphasis on areas where families are already congregating,” he said. “In the Valley, we have high heat indexes and low tree canopies. Our parks and schools need more shade, and we can do that by planting native trees that are more drought tolerant and can do well with natural rainfall.”

And so, 5,000 cedar elms, Texas ebonies and Texas Mountain Laurels are being planted across the Valley, with a promise and commitment by seven cities to make them grow and prosper with the proper care and maintenance given to the saplings. It will take diligence and commitment, “a return on investment,” as Williams puts it in seeing that the manhours invested by city staff pay off in tall trees.

“We’re not starting out with huge established trees,” Villela said in Mercedes. “It’s going to take a few years. We know that, but what we’re doing now is going to benefit future generations.”