The trees will help cool down the area, as well as mitigate flooding and help refill the Edwards Aquifer that is under Zilker Park.
AUSTIN, Texas — A coalition of environmentalists is investing in the future of Zilker Park, by planting more than 100 trees to help Austinites find some shade at the park, and even help with flooding just outside of Barton Springs.
This was a way for Owen Skrinde to plant roots in Austin after having lived here for about a year and a half.
“Oh, this tree is mine. I named it Steve,” Skrinde said as he looked at the tree he planted with pride.
This transplant is one of more than 60 volunteers that showed up to Zilker Park Friday morning to help plant 140 trees.
“Oh, I just had to be here,” Skrinde said. “I love nature. I love everything about nature.”
Nature has also kept him on his toes.
“I think that the running joke is that you can never predict Austin weather, and I don’t think there’s anything more true than that,” Skrinde said.
And that weather pattern is why 351 Executive Director Fleetwood Jacobs and other environmental groups wanted the massive group of volunteers to plant trees just outside of Barton Springs.
“This area gets really heavy rain,” said Jacobs. “The runoff flows through here and straight into Barton Springs.”
Jacobs said the trees can help re-fill the Edwards Aquifer by allowing for storm runoff to seep through the soil.
“It’s a big plot of land, and we need to care for it,” Jacobs said.
Caring for Austinites is another goal of the effort. The trees will add to the city’s canopy, bringing more shade from the hot Texas sun.
“We had storms the last two days, and now it’s going to be 90 degrees today,” Skrinde said.
For Skrinde, it’s a matter of looking back at the roots planted and standing tall with pride when the trees come to fruition years from now.
“It’s like that age-old saying like, ‘fruits of your labor,'” Skrinde said. “Anybody sitting on the couching saying ‘What can I do for myself and my community?’ Plant a tree. It’s really that simple.”