Parks Commission honors Eagle Scouts for city urban-forest projects

The Buda Parks Commission recognized three local Eagle Scouts on Monday for projects that expanded the city’s urban-forestry efforts. Parks Manager Juan introduced Arnav Venkatesh, Alexander Israel and Jake Kline and described each youth project’s contribution to tree education and preservation.

Juan said Arnav “put together a tree planting seminar, event and then a conservation fair with the Hays County Master Naturalist,” adding the effort drew about 30 people and was supported by a $5,000 HEB grant. He described Alexander Israel’s inventory of downtown heritage trees — measuring 24 trees more than 50 inches in diameter and estimating the trees’ value to the community — and praised Jake Kline’s work updating tree identifications with QR codes linked to Texas A&M Forest Service pages.

City staff presented each scout with a plaque and thanked their families and troop volunteers. The recognitions were framed as part of Buda’s ongoing Tree City USA work, which Juan said requires a designated official with responsibility for public-tree care, an ordinance and a minimal annual per-capita investment in urban forestry. The commission applauded the students and noted the projects will be useful reference tools for staff and the public going forward.