As climate change exacerbates extreme heat, organizations across the city are looking for solutions to mitigate its effects. Advocates say a relationship of trust with the community needs to be built for these solutions to be effective.
Dallas, TX
Texas Trees a five-year plan to make South Dallas more green
Anamelia Jaramillo has lived in Jubilee Park for almost 20 years and is concerned about the heat getting worse every summer.
She fears her air conditioning system failing because her husband has diabetes and can be vulnerable to extreme heat.
“I wish we didn’t have to have the A/C running all day long, but it is impossible to survive in the summer without it,” said Jaramillo, 54, after attending a Zumba class at Jubilee Park on Nov. 11.
In 2023, more than 20 people died in Dallas and Tarrant counties from heat-related illnesses as Texas saw record heat waves and triple-digit temperatures, according to the counties’ medical examiners. The lack of trees and green spaces, such as community gardens and parks, in an urban area contributes significantly to the ‘urban heat island effect,’ as buildings, roads, and other hard surfaces absorb and retain more heat.
Dallas’ District 7, where most of the neighborhoods participating in the South Dallas Greening Initiative are located, was ranked the third-highest priority for tree canopy, according to the Dallas Tree Equity Mapping Report published in 2022 by the Texas Trees Foundation.
Districts 4 and 6 ranked as the first and second highest priority for tree canopy, and the organization has been deploying some of their programs to plant more trees in these areas. Early this year, the Texas Trees Foundation released its plan to tackle the lack of trees in the Southwestern Medical District as part of its initiatives to combat the urban heat island effect.
Texas Trees, through the South Dallas Greening Initiative, also is working in the Jubilee neighborhood to address the area’s lack of trees to combat the extreme heat affecting residents’ health and quality of life. The nonprofit is providing thousands of trees to the almost 50,000 residents of Fair Park, Mill City, Queen City, Wheatley Place and adjacent neighborhoods over five years. Jubilee Park is just below Interstate 30 and north of Fair Park.
Chandler Stephens’ father, Calvin W. Stephens, has owned two vacant lots in South Dallas since the 1980s. The younger Stephens has been talking with the nonprofit Texas Trees about working together on his vision to create a community garden.
Stephens dreams of having a green space in every corner of South Dallas to improve residents’ quality of life.
“I can see [the initiative] as something that will prolong the community’s livelihood. Not only with addressing the urban heat island issue but just by providing greenery,” Stephens said. “Plants and our health is so linked to the health of the earth and the planet.”
The Dallas Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan established protocols for adapting to climate change challenges in 2020. It states that Dallas needs approximately 735,000 trees to reach a goal of 37% tree canopy cover and, specifically, mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Since Its founding in 1982, Texas Trees has planted an estimated 1.5 million trees across the Dallas-Fort Worth region. In 2023, the Dallas-based nonprofit secured a $15 million grant from the Reduction Act through the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program for the South Dallas Greening Initiative.
The project, however, is part of a long-term solution to extreme heat, and many of Jubilee’s residents want to see more.
“I am in favor of the initiative and for them to plant more trees in the area, but we also need help with how to pay the electricity bills,” Jaramillo said.
In any community, including South Dallas, trees may not be at the top of each resident’s list of the needs they see for their community, said Elissa Izmailyan, chief strategy and operations officer with Texas Trees.
“We are showing up with a commitment to help and the ability to offer trees and urban forestry education but realize that we’re entering a landscape where there are a lot of other needs and priorities,” Izmailyan said.
“So first, we need to be sensitive to that broad range of priorities and capacities. Second, we need to think about how our offering intersects with other needs in a way that’s additive.”
The project will have several components beyond planting trees in the community, Izmailyan said.
The first phase has been to reach out to the community and work with nonprofits and organizations in South Dallas to establish a trusting relationship and understand the community’s needs and wants.
That’s where partnerships with local organizations come into play, as well as involvement with community leaders.
The Jubilee Park and Community Center is a nonprofit that works to restore equity and resources for the 3,000 residents of the Jubilee neighborhood. The community center has been around for almost 30 years and offers education, health, food access and after-school programs.
Emily Plauche, Texas Trees’ community greening manager, said the initiative includes an educational component that teaches residents about trees, their benefits, how to care for them, green jobs, and other measures that can be taken to combat extreme heat.
“So there’s always going to be other needs or things that arise, too, and we can’t necessarily, with our money, purchase that. But we can help advocate and get the city involved and bring other people to the table who have some of these potential solutions,” Plauche said. “We are deeply committed to the well being of the community.”
Texas Trees will work with some of the area’s schools to boost green spaces and tree planting on the campuses. The organization already runs a program across the city focusing on schools needing more canopy.
907 Bank Street in Dallas on November 11, 2024.(Steve Hamm / Special Contributor)
Marissa Castro Mikoy, president and chief executive officer at Jubilee Park, said over the years, Texas Trees has helped plant over 150 trees on their campus, and they can see the benefits to the community, from providing shade to beautifying the park.
Benefits of trees
In April, Dallas shared findings from a study that identified at least 10 neighborhoods as ‘urban heat island spots.’ Some of these spots have less green space, and the temperature is 10 degrees hotter in these areas than in other parts of the city.
Trees can help reduce the urban heat island effect and improve people’s and the environment’s health in several ways.
They provide shade and block incoming solar radiation, lowering temperatures by several degrees. They also release water vapor, which can help cool temperatures. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere in their wood and roots, absorb gases and provide a place for harmful air particles to land.
At the same time, according to the U.S. Forest Service, trees provide mental health benefits such as stress reduction, improved mood, and a sense of well-being due to increased exposure to nature.
Cities across the country and the world have documented the long-term effects of planting trees strategically in urban areas.
In Chicago, Illinois, according to studies, neighborhoods with higher tree canopy cover have experienced temperature reductions of up to 2.7–3.8°C compared to areas with little or no tree canopy.
Similarly, in Medellin, Colombia, temperatures fell by 2°C in the first three years of their program installing green corridors, and officials expect a further decrease of 4 to 5C over the next few decades, even taking into account climate change, the Secretary of Environment of Medellin reported.
Limitations
Trees are one solution that can help residents in South Dallas combat extreme heat, but Castro Mikoy said the initiative needs to be combined with other solutions to the area’s problems.
Displacement, making ends meet, and food insecurity are some issues facing South Dallas residents that make heat waves even more damaging for them.
Silvia Herrera, 48, a Jubilee resident, avoids turning on lights and household appliances during the day in the summer to keep her home cooler and reduce her electricity bills. She said her bill is around $500 in the peak summer months.
“You have to make decisions such as when you turn on the A/C and what things to avoid to spend less energy so the bill [electricity] is not too high because then I can’t pay for it,” Herrera said.
Planting trees and having the ecosystem to purchase, transport, and maintain them can also be expensive. The South Dallas Greening Initiative was able to come to life because of the grant Texas Trees secured. Not all cities or organizations can afford this type of solution, which is a limitation to replicating this program everywhere.
Community First
Through the five-year plan, Brittani Hite, strategic director of Ethos Equity Consulting, which is working with Texas Trees on the initiative, said there should be no surprises for the residents.
The project is for the community and by the community, said Hite.
“We understand that the solutions are already within the community,” Hite said. “South Dallas residents know what they want. They know what they need, but because of environmental and ultimately systemic racism, unfortunately, we lack green spaces, trees and other basic necessities in our city’s Black and brown neighborhoods.”
From Hite’s perspective, the conversations of the Jubilee moms after the Zumba classes to Stephen’s dream of having community gardens that work with the wants and needs of the South Dallas community will have an impact on finding the right solution.
María Ramos Pacheco wrote this story as part of a climate solutions fellowship with the Solutions Journalism Network. Did you know that what you just read was a solutions journalism story? It didn’t just examine a problem; it scrutinized a response. By presenting evidence of who is making progress, we remove any excuse that a problem is intractable.
The BMW Dallas Marathon is in full swing this weekend. Events started Friday night and will run through Sunday.
Saturday morning included a 10K, 5K, and the kids’ 100-meter dash, but Sunday is the big day so many runners have been training for.
From young runners to older runners, thousands participated in Saturday’s events, including one of Santa’s elves.
“Santa made me work today,” said John Schmidt, who participated in the 5K dressed as Santa’s finest.
Myrna Besley came from Colorado to jog the BMW Dallas Marathon 5K on Saturday morning, pushing her grandson along the way.
“My daughter is a runner, we do this to go along with her, she’s way ahead of us, and she’ll be running in the marathon tomorrow,” Besley said.
Teachers Caroline Menzia and Emma Gayle took a break from the classroom to hit the pavement.
“We work hard every day in our job, and I don’t know, we wanted to push ourselves outside of our work, to do something for us that we can accomplish,” said Menzia.
Organizers said while a lot goes into planning this event, it’s important for runners to enjoy the journey it’s taken to get here.
“Have some fun, smile, it’s hard, getting to the finish line is not easy,” Jason Schuchard, president of the BMW Dallas Marathon, said. “But just relax, trust your training, and just remember to smile.”
If you’re one of the thousands of runners running on Sunday, organizers said to arrive early, stay hydrated, and stay warm.
“Come early, park early, make yourself comfortable, you don’t want to stress out,” said Dr. Logan Sherman, chairman of the BMW Dallas Marathon. “It’s going to be cold, so bundle up and any clothes or any items you want to discard before you get to the start, please know that you can discard it on the side of the corral right before you’re about to take off.”
There will be many road closures in Downtown Dallas on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit: https://dallasmarathon.com/.
This Sunday, thousands of runners will lace up their shoes and toe the starting line for the BMW Dallas Marathon. For athletes ambitious enough to take on the 26.2-mile feat, the race starts at Dallas City Hall Plaza. Runners will make their way through Uptown and Highland Park, go around White Rock Lake and circle back to finish downtown.
At the end of November, I ran my first marathon in Philadelphia. Enough time has passed that I can walk down the stairs normally again, but I still have the black and blue toenails to prove my achievement.
Shortly after moving to Dallas this summer, I signed up for the race. Running has become my way of learning the city and getting to know the nooks and crannies that weave through each neighborhood. When I’m running, the city starts to shrink. Neighborhoods that once felt far away from one another are suddenly connected, and with every mile covered on foot, the city feels a little more familiar.
Since I joined my local YMCA track team in third grade, I’ve never stopped running. From high school cross country races to joining my college’s club running team and running a half marathon this past spring, I’ve run a lot of miles over the years. A marathon was the final race on my list, and it seems I’m not the only one.
Jason Schuchard, president of the BMW Dallas Marathon, said this year, over 5,000 runners are registered for the full marathon. Registration opened May 1 and the race was already sold out in August, the earliest sell-out date in the race’s 54 years.
Why is there a growing interest in running marathons?
Gen Z runners
More young runners are signing up for races, pinning on a bib and crossing the finish line.
According to Strava, a social media app where athletes can track runs and other workouts, there was a 33% increase in Gen Z runners recording a marathon race on the app this year compared with 2024.
In an era where traditional markers of success — buying a house, getting married or having kids — are becoming more out of reach, training for a race seems like an attainable goal and something that young people can set their sights on.
An increase in running clubs in part fuels the running craze. These groups host community runs that attract large numbers of runners.
The number of running clubs registered on Strava more than tripled this year.
Dallas is home to its own run clubs, many of which have gained popularity on social media. I structured my training around these weekly meet-ups, dashing around town with Pegasus Run Club’s marathon crew, trading training tips with Oak Cliff Run Crew, and chatting with newbie runners training for their first 5k and ex-cross country kids at Kairos Run Club.
Run clubs are good places to meet other people who also enjoy the “runner’s high,” and it’s encouraging to see so many showing up to run in their communities.
This year, the Dallas Marathon is partnering with about 10 run clubs in the area. Schuchard said the clubs help provide exposure for the race, volunteer to lead pace groups for the half and full marathons and organize cheer zones on the course.
On your own
While running clubs are a fun way to find community, a lot of my training was OYO (on your own, as my high school coach used to note on our training plan). I’ve logged hundreds of miles on the Katy Trail, weaving between dog walkers, rollerbladers and college kids clad in Lululemon.
Every Saturday morning, I drove out to White Rock Lake for my long run. The 9-mile loop is the place in Dallas to do a weekly long run, the pinnacle of marathon training. While specific training plans vary, building mileage each week during a longer run to simulate race day conditions is key to success.
In the early morning, the paved path around the lake is filled with cyclists and runners adorned with water belts. The discarded packets of energy gels littering the pavement are proof that there are a lot of people training for races. There’s something comforting about being surrounded by others who also find it enjoyable to spend a good portion of their weekend running.
In July, I slogged through the miles in the heat. I could barely finish eight miles, not even a full loop around the lake, without walking. A few weeks ago, I set out for 20 miles, the longest run I would do before race day. That’s a little more than two loops around White Rock Lake, something that was unthinkable at the beginning of the summer.
One of my training runs took me from my apartment near the Katy Trail to Southern Methodist University, over to White Rock Lake and then on the Santa Fe Trail passing by Fair Park and weaving through Deep Ellum.
Even though I started the run at 6 a.m. in the dark, by the time I got to Fair Park and my watch chimed to let me know I had reached 13 miles, just a few more to go, the temperature was already climbing close to 90 degrees. Training in the Texas heat is no joke, but it paid off in Philadelphia. The crisp mid-30s temps I was greeted with on race day were a welcome relief after months of running under the Texas sun.
On social media, runners in matching race day kits with colorful shoes set off for 26.2 miles. Some opt for special shoes with carbon-fiber plates that provide an extra boost with each stride, vests with pockets designed to hold energy gels, electrolytes and water, watches to calculate your pace and even minty balms to soothe the pain that comes with running for hours.
But you don’t need high-tech gear to be a runner. The magic of a marathon is all the training and preparation that happen months before you arrive at the starting line. The race is the final victory lap.
For those running the marathon this Sunday, take it all in. Pause your music to listen to the roar of the crowd as you turn into the final stretch. Take an orange slice from a spectator at mile 21 when you feel like your legs can’t move anymore. High-five the “Tap here to power up” sign and don’t forget to smile when you cross the finish line — you paid to do this!
Caroline Collins is editorial fellow for The Dallas Morning News.
Dallas County adult probation director Arnold Patrick “has transitioned out of his role” leading the department, according to an email his deputy sent to employees Friday.
The criminal district and county court judges who oversee the Community Supervision and Corrections Department director declined to comment on the nature of Patrick’s departure. Christina O’Neil, chief counsel for the judiciary, told The Dallas Morning News matters involving employees “are confidential and not subject to public dissemination.”
But Patrick’s departure comes as the department remains under a state investigation prompted by reporting from The News in October that uncovered how Patrick paid his state advocacy association colleague $45,100 in a contract to vet vendors despite the consultant acknowledging in an email he did not complete the work.
The audit by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice’s Office of Internal Auditor is still in process, according to director of communications Amanda Hernandez.
Patrick did not respond to a phone call or text message seeking comment. Marta Kang, deputy director of the adult probation department, is serving as acting director, according to the email she sent employees Friday.
“Please know that my focus will remain on collaboration, communication and ensuring we have what we need to succeed,” Kang wrote.
In January 2023, Patrick hired Austin-area lobbyist Eric Knustrom to screen and handle vendors doing business with the probation department while the two were also working together in a state advocacy association they created the year prior, emails obtained by The News show.
During the year of Knustrom’s contract with the probation department, he missed deadlines and did not perform core duties of the agreement, according to his December 2023 termination letter. Knustrom failed to review vendor applications, provide status updates or share outcomes of client complaints, the letter states.
Records show the probation department issued Knustrom five checks totaling $45,100 in 2023.
By early 2024, Knustrom had cashed only $12,300 worth of the checks.
In May 2024, five months after his contract ended, Patrick asked Knustrom if he was going to redeem the outstanding payments, emails show. Knustrom responded by acknowledging he did not perform all the work he was contracted to do and needed to make up for it.
“I’d like to cash the checks (bc I’m poor) but I want to come up with a statement of work that will allow me to provide actual services of actual value equal to that compensation for Dallas County. Sound fair?” Knustrom wrote.
Patrick encouraged him to cash the checks, even if the work performed wasn’t up to standards. He said the outstanding checks were causing an issue for the county.
“Cash them and then issue the statement before you spend it if that will work,” Patrick wrote. “If not, I need to cancel them.”
Knustrom declined to comment on Friday. In a previous interview, Knustrom said the work he performed was not “my A-game,” but he still fulfilled his duties by reviewing the department’s procurement process and creating a system to receive vendor complaints.
Patrick said in a previous interview that Knustrom performed work even though it wasn’t up to either of their standards.
Knustrom’s contract called for him to submit monthly invoices detailing the number of hours worked and a list of assignments completed each month. None of the 11 monthly invoices for $4,100 that Knustrom submitted include any detail about the work he performed.
Knustrom said his delay in cashing the outstanding checks was an oversight. He said he received one payment of $4,100 in October 2023 via electronic deposit and deposited two checks totaling $8,200 in April 2024 into his personal bank account.
In summer 2024, Knustrom said he tried to make a larger deposit but had problems setting up a business account at a bank. Then he forgot about the money until earlier this year when he needed a down payment for a car, Knustrom said. By then, the checks were outdated, so the probation department voided them and issued a new check for $32,800 in May, Kevin Camacho, a county auditor supervisor, previously confirmed.
Patrick and Knustrom’s work together dates back at least to 2021, when Knustrom was a lobbyist for the Texas Probation Association, which represents many of the state’s 123 probation departments.
In 2022, Patrick and two other probation directors created a spinoff group, East Texas Community Supervision Alliance, with Knustrom as its registered agent.
While working for Dallas County in 2023, Knustrom provided pro bono assistance to the East Texas alliance during that year’s legislative session. Emails show Knustrom conducted analysis of a bill supported by the alliance that would have required probation departments to return less money to the state every two years.
Knustrom also emailed a staffer of state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, and unsuccessfully encouraged his office to back the bill. The bill later died in committee.
Knustrom said he did not register with the Texas Ethics Commission in 2023 to lobby for the alliance because the group did not pay him for his efforts and he did not meet with lawmakers on the alliance’s behalf. He said he was acting as a member of the group rather than its lobbyist.
By the 2025 legislative session, Knustrom was registered to officially lobby on behalf of the East Texas alliance but said the group still did not pay him.
At a legislative committee hearing on May 5, Knustrom registered on behalf of the alliance against a bill that passed and changed the approval process for probation departments’ budgets. Patrick was there and testified against the bill. The probation department issued Knustrom a replacement check for the stale 2023 payments the next week, the payment register shows.
Knustrom said while he was working with Patrick on the alliance’s issues, he also was trying to buy a new car and needed a down payment. That’s when he said he remembered his uncashed check from Dallas County’s probation department and asked Patrick to reissue the stale $32,800 payments from 2023.
Both Patrick and Knustrom previously said their work together with the East Texas Alliance was unrelated to Knustrom’s contract with Dallas County.
“One is not related to the other,” Patrick said, “but I acknowledge that it does look funny.”
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