The city of Tucson is hosting a summer workshop series aimed at cooling and greening historically underserved neighborhoods by educating residents and supporting community-led environmental projects.

GROW Tucson is a grant-funded city initiative focused on making the city’s hottest neighborhoods cooler and greener by bringing neighbors together to create green spaces that tackle heat and drought with nature-based solutions.

The four-year initiative is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service and works with disadvantaged neighborhoods to create a sustainable, resilient future.

The goal is to expand tree canopy, build nature-based infrastructure and support community-led projects across designated neighborhoods, with each neighborhood receiving support in different years through 2028.

The summer workshops kicked off last month in the Sunnyside neighborhood, said GROW Tucson Grant Manager Vianey Avila.

“This summer series is important because it directly supports the mayor and council’s directive to address climate change impacts while improving quality of life in historically underserved neighborhoods,” Avila said. “With Tucson’s rising temperatures and canopy inequities, especially in places like Sunnyside and the Thrive zone, this program is to support and educate residents.”

Every Wednesday in July, GROW Tucson is partnering with local environmental groups to host a workshop focused on building and caring for more green spaces in the 29th Street Thrive Zone. The workshops are free and family-friendly, featuring information for adults and activities for kids.

Participants include the city of Tucson, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Tucson Bird Alliance, U.S. Forest Service, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Hispanic Access Foundation, Iskashitaa Refugee Network, SERI and more.

Last week, GROW Tucson teamed up with Tucson Clean and Beautiful and other groups to host a resource fair and educational workshop focused on growing green spaces.

Green spaces help shade and cool neighborhoods, calm urban environments, beautify communities, build soil and control erosion, capture stormwater runoff, supplement the food supply, provide wildlife habitat and bring people together, according to GROW Tucson.

“I think that one of the things that we’re trying to achieve with the workshops and through education is stewardship,” said Jocelyn Aguilar, community engagement and education project manager for Watershed Management Group, a nonprofit focused on rainwater harvesting, river restoration and tracking the flow of rivers.

Through education, WMG hopes people will come to care about environmental issues and support programs that make Tucson more sustainable.

“We don’t want to put these projects in without people asking for them or without people wanting them,” Aguilar said.

She pointed to WMG’s rainwater harvesting programs, which, paired with the city’s rebate, can provide up to $2,000 for installing residential systems. To qualify, participants must attend WMG’s free classes.

“That’s just one of many classes and workshops that we teach,” she said.

The series continues this Wednesday with the “Habitat Everywhere” event at the Freedom Park Center from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., co-hosted by the Tucson Bird Alliance and Iskashitaa Refugee Network.

Attendees will learn how to create a renter-friendly container garden of native plants to attract hummingbirds, butterflies and more, with Iskashitaa providing free plants.

The following Wednesday, SERI and the Watershed Management Group will co-host an event focused on rainwater harvesting and the city rebate. The final event of the month, on Wednesday, July 30, is an introduction to mesquite trees and fall gardening.

Advanced registration is required and doors open at 5 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Beyond the summer series, GROW Tucson will also host tree planting days, neighborhood cleanups and educational pop-ups.

Arilynn Hyatt is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at arilynndhyatt@arizona.edu.

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