Garrett received two nominations, which are combined below.
Description of Individual or Organization
Garrett is a co-founder and former CEO of The Container Store. Since partially retiring approximately 8 years ago he and his family foundation, the Boone Family Foundation, have personally initiated, led, and financed numerous projects relating to green space in Dallas.
Garrett’s personal mission is creating a more sustainable environment and promoting environmental stewardship. From co-founding Texas Business for Clean Air in 2006 to the recent opening of Frasier Dam Recreation Area in Dallas, he proves that one person can make a substantial difference in the community.
Several years ago, and during his commute to work, Boone noticed a series of small lakes, teeming with birdlife, which seemed to be connected to a river running under LBJ Freeway. Upon further exploration, he noticed an open gate on an access road under Stemmons Freeway, on the Harry Hines southbound access road. He drove in, only to be surprised by a forest right in the middle of the city.
“There was a main road that went down to what I later was to find was the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. However, the whole area was devastated by trash and debris in every square inch of water, every square inch of forest, especially along the main service road through the forest to the river and there were piles of illegally dumped trash up to 6 feet tall.” He realized what a gem this could be — a beautiful forest right off a huge freeway — but was overwhelmed by the task of doing anything about it. Knowing this was a gargantuan environmental cleanup, he contacted Groundwork Dallas because they had expertise in environmental cleanups. Eventually he joined its Board of Directors.
With hundreds of volunteer hours and generous financial support from the Boone Family Foundation, Garrett has helped the nonprofit realize its mission of developing recreation areas in the Trinity River corridor and to teach youth to become future stewards of the environment. Most recently, Garrett, along with many others, helped GWD revitalize the Frasier Dam Recreation Area, on the Green Belt of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Spanning 116 acres, the Frasier Dam Recreation Area is the last remaining urban forest within the Dallas Levee System. This project turned this overlooked piece of natural beauty in the heart of Dallas into a world class recreation center and it is now open to the public.
As Garrett says, “The Trinity River corridor, if we take care of it and provide the kind of access to it that I know we can do – we will enhance the value of every single acre of real estate in Dallas county.” He describes the work as “respectful access to nature” that ensures a thriving forest and enhances the health and well-being of the city and its residents.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
Garrett enjoyed a very successful business career and credits his entrepreneurial success to three early goals: operate his own business, create the perfect retail company, and explore the concept. In many ways, his focus on the environment utilizes similar goals: he committed to personal goals related to the environment, he created, helped create, or supported organizations that that did outstanding work in the environmental arena, and he is continually “exploring” new ways to create greenspaces in North Texas. He has a “can-do” attitude and his long-held relationships with Dallas business and community leaders continues to open doors.
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
One of his most striking realizations was of the magnitude of the trash problem in the Trinity corridor. Much of his work has been picking up trash personally, organizing groups to do so, and in finding innovative ways to deal with the trash problem. He is active in working with the City of Dallas to find ways to systematically solve the liter and trash problem as so much ends up in the Trinity.
To derail a fast-track initiative to construct 11 outdated coal-burning energy plants in North Texas, Garrett co-founded Texas Business for Clean Air (TBCA) Foundation in 2006. The organization promoted ‘clean air is good for business in Texas,’ was the subject of a Robert Redford documentary Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars and earned the 2010 CATEE (clean air through energy efficiency) Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year award. The story behind this is worth noting.
When the hometown mega-utility pushed forward with plans to build 11 coal-fired power plants in North Texas, TXU found reliable allies among the business elite. If others among Dallas’ top executives had misgivings about this pollution-intensive proposal, most didn’t say. But Mr. Boone and two other prominent business leaders weren’t satisfied to remain silent. They realized that pollution comes at a price, and they decided to stand up for clean air.
The three businessmen went to school to learn about toxic pollutants and power plants. They quietly urged TXU to scale back its plans. And when that didn’t work, they went public. Boone and his clean-air compatriots formed a political action committee and joined the vocal opposition. The emergence of Texas Business for Clean Air signaled a momentous shift in the public discourse about pollution.
Boone’s organization helped move the discussion to matters of public health. He summarized his worldview quite succinctly when he noted: “Businessmen breathe, too.” Texas Business for Clean Air recruited some 300 like-minded executives throughout the state, made its case in the media and lobbied the Legislature. The group promoted clean energy and pushed for environmental protections. To be sure, this was a team effort. And the organization’s three founders are to be commended. But Mr. Boone’s leadership stood out, securing his spot as a finalist for Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year.
While going green has become more politically popular in recent months, Boone and his allies spoke up at a time when it was neither expedient nor easy. And they proved that business and environmentalists could be one and the same.
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
Eight years ago Garrett began a clean up and trail building on 11 acres that became Hines Park along the Trinity. This has involved the ongoing removal of literally tons of trash and maintenance of the trails whose construction he spearheaded.
About the same time he became aware of the potential of 110 acres owned by the Dallas Water Company to be converted from a virtual dump into a green space. Garrett developed a comprehensive plan for this area and with his personal leadership and financing, and the work of other groups, this has now become Frazier Dam Park with trails, signage, flood resistant benches and picnic tables and spaces for children's groups. This has become a wonderful outdoor natural area convenient to residents of north and west Dallas and neighboring municipalities.
Garrett has served on several boards of directors relating to the development of parks along the Trinity River in Dallas. Garrett serves on the Boards of The Boone Family Foundation, The Trinity Park Conservancy, and Groundwork Dallas. He is highly involved in helping to create National Park quality environments in the Great Trinity Forest in Dallas. In conjunction with The Boone Family Foundation, Mr. Boone provided a grant to be used for the Trinity Forest Elm Fork Greenbelt Master Plan.
Other reasons for your nomination
Garrett has been actively working with others to find ways to take care of the native prairies and other green spaces in Dallas. He has been intimately involved in the planting of native species in the Oncor right away at White Rock and in devising plans to maintain that space.
He is also helping to advise and finance the 350-acre LB Houston project. Garrett is that rare person who has the means to see that substantial green spaces can be created and maintained and who you regularly find "down in the trenches" working as hard and sweating as much as any of us interested in the native flora and fauna of our area.