Our Work
We’ve won local, state and national awards for our projects and for bringing public and private interests together through trees. If you’re looking for a way to add more shade and beauty to your yard, connect with coworkers through a meaningful community service project, or impact your community as a volunteer, you’re in the right place!
Our Team
Greenscape’s staff partners with like-minded organizations to help achieve our mission. The Florida Forest Service, University of Florida Extension Service, and foresters from JEA all consult with Greenscape and provide professional expertise as part of their outreach to the community. Like most nonprofits, Greenscape has a Board of Directors that oversees aspects of the operation and serves as ambassadors to the wider community. If you’re interested in becoming a board member, send us an email at info@greenscapeofjax.org.
Lisa Grubba - Executive Director
Lisa Grubba, Executive Director of Greenscape of Jacksonville, Inc., is an award-winning journalist and Florida Master Naturalist who covered environmental matters in Northeast Florida for more than a decade. She founded Florida Field Notes, a digital magazine, and hosted a radio segment, “Wild Florida,” on WJCT 89.9 FM’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross.
Grubba began her career in finance with Barnett Bank, later managing the statewide operations of a regional company. She holds a Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s in Journalism from Harvard University, and a Master Naturalist certification from the University of Florida.
Rebecca Henson - Assistant Director
Becky Henson is Assistant Director of Greenscape of Jacksonville, Inc. In this role, Becky oversees administrative functions for the organization, volunteer coordination, donor relations and fund development, and financial reporting. She has proudly served the Jacksonville community through her work at Greenscape since 2006.
A devoted leader who credits her passion for environmental issues with leading her to Greenscape, Becky spent more than a decade volunteering with the Boy Scouts (Cub Scout Pack 488, Troop 488 and Troop 287). This experience allowed her to share her love for trees with the next generation, as she connected local troops with volunteer opportunities such as tree plantings and the annual Arbor Day Festival & Tree Giveaway.
Becky is a Central Florida native who has proudly called Jacksonville home since 1996. Outside of her work with Greenscape, she can often be found reading, volunteering at her church (San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church), or planning her next travel adventure.
Kyle Musser, CAP® - Director of Development
As Director of Development, Kyle Musser leads fundraising efforts to Plant, Protect, and Protect trees in Northeast Florida. Musser’s career is rooted in relationship-building, connecting donors with meaningful opportunities to make a difference at organizations including the University of North Florida and the Jacksonville Symphony.
A Jacksonville native and Avondale resident, Musser holds degrees in music performance and business from the University of North Florida. He serves on the Lanakila Garden Foundation board of directors, and Placemaking Steering Committee for the Riverside Avondale Preservation.
Garner Cox - Urban Forestry Program Director
Garner Cox serves as the Urban Forestry Program Director at Greenscape, where he passionately leads initiatives aimed at enhancing Jacksonville’s urban forest. His work encompasses a wide range of activities, including volunteer tree plantings, community education and engagement, and the supervision of maintenance efforts to ensure the long-term health and vitality of urban trees.
A Chattanooga, TN native, Garner earned his Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Studies with concentrations in Environmental Science and Geographic Information Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. As an ISA Certified Arborist and ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified professional, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, with extensive experience across utility, municipal, and private arboriculture sectors.
Prior to his tenure at Greenscape, Garner held key positions in urban forestry, including County Arborist for Nassau County, FL, and Business Development Manager for Yellowstone Tree Care. These roles have equipped him with valuable insights and skills in managing urban forestry projects and fostering community collaboration.
Garner is deeply committed to working alongside city officials, community groups, and residents to identify new opportunities and enhance existing programs. Through his leadership, he actively ensures that Greenscape’s initiatives not only thrive but also make a meaningful contribution to the health and sustainability of Jacksonville’s urban forest.
Officers of the Board
E. ZIMMERMAN BOULOS – President
DUSTIN FELIX – Vice President
CAROLE POINDEXTER – Treasurer/Secreatry
CHRISTINE NICHOLS – Immediate Past President
BRUCE ANDREWS – At Large
JENNIFER KING – At Large
KIT TERRY – At Large
Board of Directors
| TRACEY ARPEN, JR. | BILL HOFF, JR. |
| PEGGY BRYAN | SALLY BAKER LEE |
| TIFFANY DAVIS | ERICA PAUL |
| GABRIELLE DEMPSEY | LISA ORMAND TAYLOR |
Our History
THE ROOTS OF GREENSCAPE
In 1975, joined by their desire to improve the Jacksonville landscape, a small group of citizens began the not-for-profit organization Greenscape of Jacksonville, Inc. The organization’s first project focused on the Downtown area. Cooperating with the City of Jacksonville through the Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority, Greenscape planted 250 commemorative trees along Downtown sidewalks. The rest, as they say, is history!
Greenscape gradually directed its focus outward from the center of the city, sharing the responsibility of tree planting in the Jacksonville area with interested neighborhood and community groups. Today, the organization is credited with over 350,000 trees added to our local canopy. In addition to its own tree planting projects, Greenscape enthusiastically embraces its role as a catalyst for change. The organization regularly approaches neighborhoods, institutions and governmental agencies with exciting and innovative projects.
Greenscape sets the environmental standard in Jacksonville through its active participation at all levels in issues pertaining to trees. By working with the City of Jacksonville in an advisory capacity to establish the City’s Landscape Ordinance, serving on the Mayor’s Environmental Advisory Committee, JEA’s Tree Coalition, and the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission, Greenscape continues to expand awareness of the importance of our tree canopy to the health and economic well-being of our community. The organization has received numerous awards and recognition at the local, state and national levels.
The Timeline
1975
1976-86
1987
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Greenscape creates a true boulevard to the beaches on Atlantic Boulevard.
1998
1998 Volunteers commit to “Taking the Bland out of Blanding Boulevard” by planting trees, shrubs and groundcover on two miles.
2000
HabiJax completes its largest buildout of 100 homes at Fairway Oaks; Greenscape plants trees at each site.
2001
2004
2007
2009
2011
2015
2016
2017
Greenscape plants “One Tree Per School” for DCPS and Jacksonville’s City Council through a joint collaboration.
2018
2019
2020
Greenscape partners with Wingard to refresh its brand identity.
Our Achievements
- 280 green ash trees along five miles of Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 17), from McDuff Avenue to Timuquana Road.
- 312 live oaks, dogwoods and crepe myrtles along Riverside and St. Johns Avenues, Herschel and Park Streets.
- Significant plantings of Bradford pear trees and crepe myrtles along San Marco Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue.
- More than 40 trees planted along the Atlantic Boulevard median between Gay and Arletha.
28 years of Greenscape’s Annual Flowering Tree Sales, providing wholesale priced quality trees to the public. - 3,000 trees planted by area school children, faculty, and volunteers on the grounds of public schools.
90 palm trees planted at the perimeter of Jessie Ball duPont park in Downtown, in honor of the Florida Sesquicentennial celebration. - More than 100 sycamores, crepe myrtles and bald cypress planted at HabiJax homes.
- Nearly 14,000 trees planted along Jacksonville’s urban highways in Greenscape’s Baby Trees project: 1,500 at I-95 and the Prime Osborn Convention Center; 4,500 at I-95 and Heckscher Drive; 7,500 at TIAA Bank Field; and 1,400 at the south approach of the Acosta Bridge.
- California Date Palms, crepe myrtles, and ground covers on a mile of medians along Atlantic Boulevard, from Mayport Road to Third Street, creating a gateway to the Beaches communities.
- Creation of “Green Releaf,” a partnership between JEA and Greenscape.
- Trees, shrubs, and grasses installed at I-10 and U.S. 17 interchange.
- Established an award-winning Urban Tree Ranger Program, teaching volunteers pruning techniques.
- Accomplished model project for “Right Tree, Right Place” on Herschel Street.
- Numerous nonprofit partnerships, such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, the ARC, HabiJax, The First Tee, Pace Center for Girls, Operation New Hope, and Jacksonville Housing Partnership.
- Partnered with the National Football League to initiate the first carbon-neutral major sport event by planting 1,000 trees in The Green Zone: Super Bowl XXXIX Carbon-Neutral Forest at UNF.
- 2007 Great Greenscape Tree Giveaway distributed 20,000 free trees to the public.
Our Awards
1980 – Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Design Beautification Award
1984 – Volunteer Jacksonville Volunteer Award/Organizations & American Institute of Architects Design Recognition Award
1989 –Arts Assembly of Jacksonville Environmental Award
1991 –Florida Urban Forestry Council Civic Award
1993 – Jax Pride Group Environmental Award & Jax Pride Event Award – Flowering Tree Sale
1994 –Jax Pride Site Improvement Award – Baby Tree Planting & Jax Pride Event Award – Flowering Tree Sale
1996 –Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Downtown Enhancement Award
1997 – Mimi and Lee Adams Environmental Award & Florida Urban Forestry Council Certificate of Excellence
1998 –Florida Urban Forestry Council Outstanding Volunteer Organization
2001 –Excellence in Outcome Achievement Award – City of Jacksonville
2006 – Alliance for Community Trees/Home Depot Foundation NeighboorWoods Award
2007 –Trees Florida Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group Award
2014 –Northeast Florida Nonprofits Collaboration and Innovation Award – Green Releaf
2016 – Ninah May Holden Cummer Award, Garden Club of America Civic Improvement Commendation, & Florida Urban Forestry Council Outstanding Project Award