In the News: ‘A cooler, greener and more resilient Richmond’: City launches project to combat heat, expand green spaces
WRIC, April 23, 2025
by Sara Molina
Earth Day was celebrated around the world on Monday, and Richmond marked the occasion with the launch of a 5-year environmental initiative aimed at cooling down some of its hottest neighborhoods.
It’s called “Cool the City” and it is a 5-year plan to plant over a thousand trees across Richmond and invest in environmental workforce development.
“Trees are one of the most valuable resources that we can have in the city,” said Laura Thomas, Richmond’s Director of Sustainability.
The effort is backed by a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service. It’s carried out in partnership between the city and several community-based organizations, like Virginia Interfaith Power and Light.
“Every church, every mosque, every temple is housed in a community where they can make a difference and actually, change the trajectory of that — the heat island effect,” said Virginia Interfaith Power and Light Executive director Faith Harris.
