The City of Columbia and Columbia Green are excited to offer our next free educational event for Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree on September 12, 2026 at the Busby Street Community Center at 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC 29203.
Beat the Heat–Plant a Tree is a collaboration between Columbia Green and the City of Columbia. The program designed to reverse the 22% decline in the area’s urban tree canopy over the past 18 years, gives away free shade trees to property owners across Greater Columbia. Since launching in 2024, Beat the Heat has provided 1,800 free, native, 7-gallon shade trees to residential and commercial property owners throughout the Greater Columbia area.
Quarterly educational events bring attention to the critical role of a healthy urban tree canopy and how we can contribute to rebuilding our canopy. Participants will learn about the health and economic benefits of urban trees, the importance of planting native trees to support local pollinators and wildlife, and how to plant and care for shade trees to ensure that they thrive and grow to maturity.
The September event will also include information for schools, churches, and civic groups in Richland and Lexington Counties about Columbia Green’s newly launched Trees for Campuses initiative. Through Trees for Campuses, nonprofit schools, churches, and community centers can apply to receive up to 50 free trees to improve canopy cover on their campuses, helping to provide cooling shade, improve air and water quality, and provide outdoor gathering spaces.
Canopy Matters
This month’s program highlights the connection between trees and public health. Lack of adequate canopy cover is associated with significantly higher rates of severe health conditions, including stroke, heart attack, diabetes and respiratory diseases. “Many sections of our city are in the highest percentiles nationally for these conditions,” said Jennifer Young, Executive Director of Columbia Green who has been digging into the research on the relationship between a healthy tree canopy and public health. “As a
community, we need to build a collective understanding about urban trees as a public health driver. When we invest in urban trees, we invest in public health,” she said.
Brian Neiger, Superintendent of Forestry and Beautification for the City of Columbia, added, “Rebuilding our urban tree canopy is important to address the effects of heat, air pollution and stormwater runoff, especially in neighborhoods with limited tree canopy cover. Most people do not realize how much urban trees contribute to the economy of cities through improved health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, higher property values, improved air and water quality, and by mitigating stormwater runoff. In the long run, planting and caring for trees is one of the most cost effective ways to improve the livability and quality of life in urban environments,” he said.
Chris Wormley, President of Columbia Green reminds us that “our urban forest is the ecosystem that insects, pollinators, birds, and creatures—including us—depend on for our survival. Protecting our existing trees and rebuilding our urban forest doesn’t just add beauty to our city,” he said. “Planting trees today is an act of hope for the world we will leave to our children and grandchildren. It all starts in your own backyard.”
Beat the Heat educational events are free and open to everyone. The September 12th event will be at the Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC 29203 from 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Come and learn how you can be part of the solution to urban heat and foster a healthier community, starting in your own backyard.
Sign up to attend at https://columbiagreen.org/beattheheat. Share with a friend…or your whole neighborhood! If you rent your home or office, please share with your property owner.
*Please see the attached flyer
