Harris County Precinct 4 is using $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding as part of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design initiative, planting 1,200 trees along 17 miles of roads in the Alief community.  

Alief, a working-class area of Southwest Harris County, averages 10 degrees hotter in the summer months than well-shaded areas of Houston. Alief has only an 11% tree canopy, compared to the Houston average of 33%. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, improving tree coverage is a simple and effective way to address the heat island effect.  

A study published in the Journal of Public Economics found increases in temperature are connected to increases in crime. In addition to reducing temperatures, these 1,200 trees will provide a positive environmental and health impact for the Alief community.