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Celebrating Arbor Day and
Extending Walnut Street Greenway

On Saturday, April 10, hundreds of volunteers will extend the Walnut Street Greenway from 40th to 43rd Streets by planting more than 80 trees along Walnut Street from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UC GreenOrganized by UC Green, the Walnut Street Greenway extension is part of a renewed effort to beautify the neighborhood and create a "Green Belt" that connects various neighborhood greening initiatives. "Trees beautify the neighborhood, filter out noise and pollution and create a pleasant environment," said Amanda Benner, director of UC Green. "This is a great opportunity for neighbors, students, and organizations to improve our public spaces and create lasting community connections."

Volunteers represent the diversity of West Philadelphia. University City residents, many trained by the Tree Tenders of Philadelphia Green, will lead the planting. Students from Drexel, the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Penn, The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, and members of the Masjid-Al Jamia Mosque will also participate. "Bites a great way to do something positive for the environment," says student volunteer Nazia Siddiqi, "I also get to meet community members I wouldn't otherwise."

The Walnut Street Greenway originated in 2001 when hundreds of volunteers planted 100 trees from 43rd to 48th Streets (Almanac April 10, 2001). Greenway species include large shade trees such as red maples and smaller underwire trees like hawthornes in coordinated groupings.

Along with their beauty, trees provide tangible benefits to urban communities. Street trees shade the concrete and help cool a neighborhood and those planted east or west of homes can cut cooling costs by 15 to 35 percent. Trees also remove air pollution by lowering air temperature through respiration and by retaining particulates. "City neighborhoods without trees become desolate heat islands," said Ms. Benner. "Trees make a world of difference to our quality of life in University City."

UC Green is a non-profit entity taking the leadership role in promoting cooperative community greening in University City through volunteer efforts and partnering with neighborhood residents, community and religious organizations, local students, and city agencies. The Greenway project is sponsored by the Spruce Hill Community Trust and funded by a grant from Citizens Bankers University City Neighborhood Partnership Fund and matched by participating property owners and stakeholders.

For information about UC Green or to volunteer for the April 10 tree planting, call (215) 573-4684 or info@ucgreen.org.

 

 


  Almanac, Vol. 50, No. 27, March 30, 2004

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