Arizona Columbine Garden Club Uses GCA Grant to Help Cool Valley Communities

In spring 2025, the Arizona Columbine Garden Club received a $10,000 Common Ground Collaborative grant from The Garden Club of America (GCA), strengthening its partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to create cooler, healthier, and more climate-resilient communities across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The partnership began in 2021 during Arizona Columbine's 75th anniversary. Working with more than 100 students, parents, and community members, the club and TNC planted 75 trees at Borman Elementary School in Maryvale. At the time, Maryvale had only about 4% tree canopy, compared with 12.5% across Phoenix. The project demonstrated how strategic tree planting can provide shade, reduce heat, and improve environmental conditions in underserved neighborhoods.

The partnership expanded in 2024 when Arizona Columbine contributed $65,000 to TNC's Urban Heat Leadership Academy (UHLA) Learning Project. UHLA equips residents and community leaders with the knowledge and tools to advocate for cooler, greener neighborhoods, particularly in areas experiencing extreme heat and limited tree canopy.

The 2025 Common Ground Collaborative grant built on this work through a hands-on project at Reed Park in Mesa. The 19-acre public park serves approximately 18,000 nearby residents but had very limited shade. On October 25, 2025, more than 100 volunteers planted 94 native and desert-adapted trees, 35 native shrubs, and installed stormwater basins to capture runoff and support irrigation. Arizona Columbine contributed 18 volunteers, who planted 14 trees. The new plantings are expected to increase tree canopy by approximately 7%.

From 75 trees planted at Borman Elementary to a $65,000 investment in UHLA and the 2025 GCA grant, Arizona Columbine Garden Club and The Nature Conservancy continue to demonstrate the impact of long-term community collaboration. Together, they are helping create cooler, greener, and more resilient neighborhoods across the Valley.