500 Shade Trees Will Be Planted In Indio As Part Of A $2.9M Grant

INDIO, CA — One small tree planted on an Indio street might not make a difference, but 500 trees with room to grow can. Thanks to a $2.9 million regional grant, Indio is slated to receive 500 shade trees, which will be planted to provide shade and cool neighborhoods across the city. The trees will help build climate resilience, according to the grant.

On Monday, at an Indio Sustainability Committee meeting, staff said the city will receive the trees in the coming months, with 250 to be planted in public spaces and the other half in private spots.

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Experts from Indio Public Works Parks Department and Streets Department will decide what sort of native tree species or drought-tolerant trees to plant and where in the next few months. The entire project will take three years to implement. The plan is to have the trees planted by the end of 2027. Each tree will be a 15-gallon size, with room to grow and no additional irrigation required once planted.

The Imperial Irrigation District, in partnership with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, was awarded the grant funding last year from Cal Fire's Inflation Reduction Act grant.

The Shade Trees for Southern California's Deserts initiative is a three-year program designed to plant 6,000 trees in undeserved communities across Imperial and Coachella valleys, according to IID's website. Funding for the project is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

Indio will be responsible for planting trees in public spaces, while IID and CVAG officials will choose locations for private-property tree planting.

"This grant represents a transformative step forward for our desert communities," said IID Board Chairwoman Gina Young Dockstader. "Planting thousands of shade trees will reduce heat, lower energy costs, and create healthier, more livable neighborhoods for our residents."

City staff said they expect the trees to be planted by the end of 2027.