Community Spotlight: Rooted in Relationships

When a community comes together, great things can grow from it — quite literally.

In recent years, residents of the Troostwood neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, worked to build support among landlords, homeowners, and nearby Rockhurst University for planting new trees in coordination with our Heartland Tree Alliance program. About half the houses in the neighborhood are rental properties and some lack outdoor water access, which can be a barrier when asking residents to steward the newly planted trees with regular watering. Volunteers helped water — including hauling containers by car or wagon from house to house — to keep the trees healthy.

Eli and Autumn start off a planting workday by showing neighborhood volunteers how to properly plant a tree. Photo provided by Troostwood Neighborhood Association.

“Over the last three years, my block (along Forest Avenue) received six new trees to replace trees that have died over the years,” says Wanda Shafer, former Troostwood Neighborhood Association president. “What a difference it makes to our streetscape! Homeowners are excited to water their trees — and help water trees at rental properties.”

Shafer adds, “One older neighbor has an extremely long hose, so he waters a new tree at a house across the street and a rental property next door. He didn’t need a new tree but understands the beauty and function of trees. He’s committed to keeping them alive!”

Troostwood received a pilot Neighborhood Empowerment grant from the City of Kansas City, Missouri; this allowed them to hire a landscaping company in the summer of 2024 to water young trees. The grant has been renewed to ensure watering in 2025, too. These efforts, along with HTA’s support, have resulted in just over 60 new — and thriving — trees in the Troostwood neighborhood.

Troostwood resident Myrtle Bailey volunteered at a planting workday with our Heartland Tree Alliance program, which included three new trees on her property along 51st Street. Photo provided by Troostwood Neighborhood Association.