BENCHMARKS: Celebrating The Greening of University City	Print Issue
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Celebrating The Greening of University City
Esaul Sanchez

In 1998, after years of decline in population in University City and marked increases in trash and crime, Penn created UC Green with the mission of uniting “community organizations, city agencies, university students and residents in local greening efforts” to enhance the streetscape of our community (Judith Rodin, The University and Urban Revival, Penn Press, 2007).

This September 26, UC Green celebrates 15 years of amazing accomplishments and adventures in urban beautification. What started with humble plantings of tulips and daffodils, education campaigns and training of volunteers, evolved into large scale plantings of whole city blocks and even overwhelming avenues.   

In its first two years, UC Green set the ground for large scale block plantings, raised money from foundations such as the William Penn Foundation, and established relationships with neighbors, student organizations and local business people.

And then September 11, 2001 happened. The whole country was in shock and mourning following these terrorist attacks on American soil.  In its student leadership ranks, UC Green had a leader of Penn’s Muslim Students Association, two leaders in the Jewish community, and a leader in a fraternity.  From that group came the idea to do something to start the healing process after the terrorist attacks and to send a positive message at a time of darkness. In a timespan of six weeks, UC Green organized its efforts in planting 125 huge trees, weighing 400 pounds each, along a then barren Chestnut Street from 33rd to 40th Street. The University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University paid for the trees and UC Green quickly trained dozens of volunteers in tree planting. Students mobilized students, fraternities and sororities joined, and in just one Saturday afternoon Chestnut Street was transformed into a tree-lined avenue. It was thought at that time to be impossible to succeed in such a large-scale endeavor, but the occasion required the challenge and UC Green embraced it completely. More than 600 student and neighbor volunteers showed up and the success of the event was so resounding that, in the blink of an eye, UC Green became a solid organizational success. The September 11 memorial planting was just one of many projects in greening transformation that UC Green has undertaken in 15 years of relentless work. Neighborhood blocks, big avenues, school playgrounds, and community centers in University City have seen the magic green thumb of the UC Green volunteers. In the process, Drexel University and the University of the Sciences have become an integral part of the effort. Many partnerships have flourished with landlords and local businesses. 

Now, there is a trick to growing trees in an urban setting: The harsh city environment dictates that trees be helped for a couple of years before they become self-sufficient. The tree mortality in cities is pretty high. Nevertheless, throughout the years UC Green has managed to keep a very high percentage of its plantings alive. To take care of the trees in a more sustainable basis than just volunteer work, UC Green created a program call UC Green Corps to employ high school neighborhood kids in taking care of the trees and public green spaces in the neighborhood. While earning some money in the summer, these students contribute to the beauty of their neighborhood, learn valuable work force skills and can appreciate the importance of green spaces in their urban setting. 

Although from the outside it may look as if UC Green is about trees and greening, the reality is that it is also about people working together to make their own environment worthy of living and enjoying. 

To celebrate its 15 years of service to the University City Community, UC Green is having a fund-raiser this September 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the old Hamilton mansion in Woodland Cemetery. Tickets may be purchased for $75 by visiting https://ucgreen.eventbrite.comThe proceeds all go to support the efforts of UC Green.

Esaul Sanchez was the founding director of UC Green which grew out of UC Brite, which he had led; he is now a real estate asset manager at FRES.

Above, Kingsessing Avenue adjacent to the Recreation Center and the Free Library of Philadelphia on S. 51st Street, between Chester and Kingsessing Avenue before UC Green led 530 volunteers in planting 150 trees along the curb on March 25, 2006.

Above, an artist's rendering showing the impact that the oaks, maples, London planes and other species that were planted by UC Green volunteers will have on the neighborhood once the trees mature.

Two neighbors supervising the installation of one of the Hawthornes on S. 43rd Street.

Mike Hardy, the late John McGarry and Esaul Saschez.