Cool the City

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A collaborative effort between the City of Richmond and local nonprofit organizations to make Richmond’s hottest neighborhoods even cooler!

10/30/2026

We've said it once, we'll say it again: trees aren't just nice-to-haves, they are essential infrastructure.

In part 2 of our Rooted in Reality series, Daniel Klein continues to talk about the ways that trees provide stormwater management and flood mitigation in much the same way that storm drains do. Follow along for Part 3!

10/26/2026

🌳 Richmond Tree Week is almost here! From November 1–7, neighbors will come together to plant and care for trees, learn about our urban forest, and celebrate the people working to make our city greener and cooler.

Cool the City is proud to be part of the week with several opportunities to care for and grow Richmond’s tree canopy. Swipe through for more details. 👈🏾

📍 Nov. 3: Henderson Middle School tree planting site prep
📍 Nov. 5: Blackwell Park tree care and litter pickup
📍 Nov. 6: Swansboro Playground tree planting
📍 Nov. 7: Henderson Middle School tree planting

And there’s more happening all over the city! 🌱

👉🏾 Visit coolthecity.com/events for details and registration info, or check out the full Richmond Tree Week schedule at reforestrichmond.org. All links are in bio!

10/21/2026

🌳 Since launching three years ago, Cool the City partners have worked together to give away 778 trees to Richmond neighbors. Check out our updated map to see where the trees we’ve given away have found new homes!

Looking for a free tree to help cool your own property or neighborhood? Our friends at Richmond Tree Stewards are hosting their annual tree giveaway on October 24.

📅 Saturday, 10/24
⏰ 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (or while supplies last)
📍5th Street Baptist Church (1302 Victor St.)

No reservation is required. Bring proof of Richmond residency and come ready to choose your trees!

Learn more about the giveaway at richmondtreestewards.org (link in bio).

10/17/2026

🌱 Can you spot the native? Swipe to play our guessing game!

Native plants aren’t just beautiful — they provide essential food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other species because they evolved alongside local wildlife.

They’re also adapted to our region’s growing conditions, making them an important part of healthy, resilient landscapes. 🌳

Ready to plant native? Check out Henrico County’s Plant Native Festival!

📅 Saturday, October 24
⏰ 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
📍 Dorey Park (2999 Darbytown Rd.)

🔗 More festival info at the link in our bio.

10/14/2026

Have you ever wondered what goes on during a Cool the City monthly meeting? 👀

Plenty of fun, great ideas, teamwork, a whole lot of collaboration, and a shared goal: making Richmond cooler, greener, healthier, and more resilient. 🌎🌳

Take a peek behind the scenes and meet the people working to make it happen!

10/08/2026

Cool the City is hiring! 😎

If you’re interested in using your skills to care for trees, expand Richmond’s urban forest, build healthier neighborhoods, or educate the community, visit coolthecity.com/careers (link in bio) to explore the following open positions:

🚜 Equipment Technician Senior, City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

🔨 Maintenance Field Worker, City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

📣 Community Advocacy Manager, Groundwork RVA

📞 Communications Intern, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light

10/08/2026

🌳 New York City just had its biggest tree-planting year in a decade, with NYC Parks planting 18,261 trees in FY2026.

Importantly, most of those trees went into neighborhoods identified as vulnerable to extreme heat. 🥵

“Access to green space and relief from extreme heat should not depend on your ZIP code," said Mayor Mamdani. "Planting more trees, especially in the neighborhoods that need them most, will help make our city cooler, healthier, and more beautiful for all New Yorkers.”

Here in Richmond, we’re working toward a city where every neighborhood has the trees and green spaces it needs to thrive. Because cooler streets and healthier lives should be possible in every ZIP code. ✊🏾

10/02/2026

Are trees a nice-to-have or essential infrastructure? 🤔

Trees aren’t just decorative, and they provide many benefits—environmental, aesthetic, and beyond!

In Part 1 of our new Rooted in Reality series, Daniel Klein talks with us about trees as a traffic calming tool in urban environments. Follow along for Part 2!

09/23/2026

🌳 It takes a community to grow Richmond's urban forest.

The City’s Urban Forestry Division and Richmond VA Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities are critical partners in this work — but Richmond is a big city, and its urban forest is even bigger.

Across our communities, nonprofits, neighborhood groups, park stewards, and volunteers support Richmond's urban forest by planting, maintaining, educating, training, and advocating for trees.

Swipe through to learn about some of these Cool the City Champions who are playing a powerful role in building a cooler, greener Richmond. 💚

These organizations are all powered by volunteers, so check out their websites and sign up for an upcoming workday! 🌱

Richmond Tree Stewards, Capital Trees, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, James River Association, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Invasive Plant Task Force-Richmond, Reedy Creek Coalition, Reforest Richmond

09/23/2026

Sweat rolled down our backs all summer, but how hot was it really?

As it turns out, pretty damn hot. 🥵

Richmond just experienced its second-hottest summer on record, with an average temperature of 79.6°F from June through August. And it wasn't just the daytime heat that made this summer so flippin’ hot.

Hot nights, episodes of poor air quality, a spike in heat-related illness, and even a train derailment showed us just how much extreme heat can affect our city.

Swipe through for a recap of the 🌡 moments that made summer 2026 (likely to be one of the coolest summers we ever experience again) one for the books.

And if you're relieved that fall is here? We are right there with you. 🍂

Address

P. O. Box 24066
Richmond, VA
23224

Website

http://linktr.ee/coolthecity

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