Trees for OB

Trees for Old Braeswood

Dear Old Braeswood Neighbor,

TREES FOR OLD BRAESWOOD is a project to perfect the allees and groves of trees which line our streets. Such plantings not only enhance property values, but also strengthen bonds of neighborhood identity and unity. The attractiveness of our neighborhood depends not only upon the efforts of individual homeowners, but also upon the beauty imparted to our streets by well-planned street tree plantings.

The overall plan comprises some 1,800 trees, of which over half were already in place. Two years ago we kicked off our campaign to plant 900 trees over the next ten years, with a completion date of May 1, 2017. Through our program’s efforts more than 300 trees have been planted throughout the neighborhood including our border streets. We are off to a good start, but your support and participation are essential to our project’s future success. This effort will cost approximately $150,000.

Last year we continued planting trees on our border streets: Kirby, Holcombe, Main and N. Braeswood. This year we hope to complete those perimeter plantings and to begin planting the interior of the neighborhood, working from North to South.

We encourage you to contribute to this project each year to ensure that all of our streets are eventually planted. However, if you need a street tree and do not wish to wait until our program reaches your street, you may request that a tree be planted this year using the enclosed order form and by sending your contribution to cover the cost of the tree.

If you’re looking for holiday gift ideas, consider making a donation as a tribute to that special person on your holiday gift list. Trees for Houston will send a card to your selected recipients with your personalized holiday message (please respond by December 31 if you wish to receive a tax letter for 2008).

Contributions to our neighborhood planting program are fully tax deductible. Please use the form enclosed. Checks should be made payable to Trees for Houston Inc./OB Fund.

Old Braeswood is one of the most gracious neighborhoods in Houston, thanks to its historic homes, spacious lawns and beautiful mature trees. However, many of our street trees have died or are in decline or in some cases were never planted. While almost 1200 street trees are now in place (nearly 300 planted since 2006), around 600 are still needed to complete the plan.

"Street trees" are the trees of a coordinated species which line the streets in the area between the sidewalk and the curb, also known as the "parkway" or "tree lawn." Volunteers have mapped existing street trees and identified the locations where street trees are needed. Street trees are lost every year due to age and damage from sidewalk and sprinkler system installations, construction, auto accidents, vandalism, drought, and public improvement projects. It is our objective to plant enough trees each year to complete and healthy arbor of street trees.

Please help us achieve our goal by responding with a generous annual tax-deductible contribution made payable to our partner, Trees for Houston Inc. Six things you can do to help expand and preserve our beautiful urban forest:

Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution payable to Trees for Houston Inc. / Old Braeswood Fund as indicated below:

Email: _________________________________ (required for specific planting requests)

[$160 per 15 gal. and $320 per 30 gal. tree to be planted at the address specified

LOCATION: __________________________________________________________________

Please make your check payable to Trees for Houston, Inc./Old Braeswood Fund. All contributions are fully tax deductible. A receipt will be mailed to you by Trees for Houston, Inc. Please call Evalyn at 713-807-1787 with any questions. Mail your contribution and completed form in the envelope provided to P.O. Box 541346, Houston, TX 77254-1346.