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TreeVitalize Partners Plant Trees at 24 Schools in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles joined students and state, city and School District of Philadelphia officials planting trees this week to plant 309 trees at 24 schools in the city as part of TreeVitalize, a public-private partnership to restore tree cover to the five-county Philadelphia region.

The Eagles made a $125,000 donation to the TreeVitalize effort for plantings at schools in the Philadelphia School District as part of the team’s ‘Go Green’ initiative. Through ‘Go Green,’ the Eagles are introducing green principles, sustainable practices and programs throughout the organization in an effort to reduce the team’s environmental footprint.

Schools were chosen based on being located in neighborhoods with little tree cover and being able to link the planting to an environmental education program.

Bache Martin School, Brown and 23rd Sts.;

Blain School, 30th and Berks St.;

Bregy School, 17th and Bigler Sts.;

Bridesburg School, 2800 Jenks St.;

Comly School, 1001 Byberry Road;

Elwood School, 6717 North 13th St.;

Emlen School, 6501 Chew Ave.;

Farrel School, 8300 Castor Ave.;

Fairhill School, 615 W. Somerset St.;

Holme School, 9150 Academy Road;

Jenks School, 8317 Germantown Ave.;

Kelly School, Pulaski and Hansberry Sts.;

Lamberton School, 7501 Woodbine Ave.;

Leidy School, 1301 Belmont Ave.;

Levering School, 5940 Ridge Ave.;

Logan School, 5000 N. 17th St.;

McCall School, 6th and Panama Sts.;

Mifflin School, Conrad and Midvale Sts.;

Pastorious School, 5650 Sprage St.;

Patterson School, 70th and Buist Ave.;

Shawmont School, 450 Dearnley St.;

Spruance School, 6401 Horrocks St.;

Stephen Decatur School, 1240 Academy Rd

Sullivan School, 5300 Ditman St.

Tree care training on how to keep the newly planted trees healthy was provided by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in April to principals, teachers, parents and community representatives.

Fairmount Park's environmental education staff will provide a free hands-on educational program at each school participating in the TreeVitalize project. Students will learn the importance of trees in an urban environment, discover the exciting birds and other wildlife that these trees attract and will learn how to water and maintain the trees.

The Fairmount Park Commission, which oversees the planting and care of 250,000 street trees in Philadelphia, is managing the planting projects at the schools.

The $8 million TreeVitalize program targets neighborhoods in older cities, boroughs and townships where tree cover is below 25 percent. Tree cover refers to the percentage of land shaded by trees and shrubs.

DCNR oversees TreeVitalize and has partnered with: the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Aqua Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Eagles; PECO, an Exelon Co.; U.S. Forest Service; Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Morris Arboretum; William Penn Foundation; Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association; Fairmount Park Commission; and county and local governments.


5/13/2005

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