Pflugerville - Hutto Edition | March 2025

BY GRACIE WARHURST

Looking ahead

What they’re saying

Recipients of the tree program choose where the tree is planted on their property, with preference to front yards so the whole neighborhood may benet. The next tree planting event will be April 5. In case of inclement weather, a make-up event will be held the following week. Tree event timeline Nov. 2, 2024: rst tree planting event Dec. 7, 2024: second tree planting event March 8: third tree planting event April 5: scheduled tree planting event

Daniel Swayze bought a home with his wife, Anna, in Pugerville last August. He noticed the lack of trees in the neighborhood before he moved in, and worried about what that would mean for hot summers and walking his dogs. Although Swayze doesn’t consider cost as a motivating factor for his enrollment in the program, he thinks the nancial benet for his neighbors who may not be able to aord trees is one of its main perks. For example, it costs the city $718 per tree, with irrigation and labor included, when sta perform routine planting. Resident Gabrielle Vernachio moved to Pugerville four years ago, and since that time she has noticed development increase while the landscape has remained relatively barren. She thinks the number of trees near Lake Pugerville makes the area feel “unnished.” In February, city sta planted 26 more trees around the lake. “I know they’re growing rapidly, but I think a huge way they can really boost the area is by

Some residents have expressed a desire for more trees to be planted near Lake P ugerville.

GRACIE WARHURSTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

investing in the landscape,” Vernachio said. Although she considers the neighborhood tree project a step in the right direction, she doesn’t think the city should stop there. “I still think Pugerville, in general, should invest more in landscaping and public spaces for people, and just making sure that people feel like they can feel safe going there,” she said.

Residents can request to receive a tree at: www.pugervilletx.gov/944/pforestry

Volunteers can sign up at: www.pugervilletx.gov/ 945/tree-volunteer-form

SOURCE: CITY OF PFLUGERVILLECOMMUNITY IMPACT

PFLUGERVILLE HUTTO EDITION