Urban Reforestation = Educational Awareness

PROJECT GREENLEAF

by Gary L. Hopfinger

Gary Hopfinger is Superintendent of Parks for Belleville (Illinois) Parks & Recreation Department. Previously he was Senior Parks Foreman for six years. Holding an A.A.S. degree in Law Enforcement, he is presently completing a degree in Horticulture. Professional involvements include IPRA, SIPRA, NRPA, Missouri Botanical Gardens and the National Institute on Park and Grounds Management, along with community service activities. Gary's spare time is spent enjoying various outdoor activities.

Project Greenleaf is an urban reforestation program for the City of Belleville, Illinois. The program plays two major roles: 1. It provides for a long-term urban reforestation program for the city; 2. It's an educational awareness program for the students to re-educate adults as to the importance (e.g. heating and cooling—energy savings) and aesthetical benefits (e.g. increased property values) trees can make upon the environment and especially trees in an urban area.

Project Greenleaf was developed by the Belleville Parks and Recreation Department not only to reforest the city and educate the public, but to assist the ailing street tree program of the town. Project Greenleaf made its debut during the week of April 20 to April 26, 1980 coinciding with Arbor Day.

Each year a different tree species will be selected for distribution. In 1980 approximately 2,500 Redbud seedlings, 12 to 18 inches in length, were distributed. The Redbud is an ornamental flowering tree.

All seedlings were individually packaged with planting and care instructions, divided by individual classes per instructor. The instructor played the most important part of the Project Greenleaf effort. Their encouragement to the students will set the pace for years to come.

Prior planning for the event occurred in January, 1980. The planning steps are as follows: (adjust as to your situation)

1. Obtain approval from the Board of Trustees of the Parks and Recreation Department or Park District and/or the Mayor for the program.

2. Obtain permission from the superintendent of the school district(s) to distribute the seedlings to the instructors of the first, second and third grades for distribution to the students.

3. Obtain current enrollment figures of the grades receiving the seedlings of all schools in the districts.

4. Select a tree specie that is easily grown and hardy to fit the area.

5. Order the tree selection well in advance to insure delivery in time.

6. Prepare handout information on the tree picked as to characteristics, growing conditions and native areas, along with planting and care instructions handout to accompany seedlings.

7. Send a letter to the principal of each school and each instructor affected by the program to gain support, and notify them of the upcoming event.

8. Gather supplies needed for the packaging of the seedlings (i.e., newspapers, plastic bags, rubber bands, bags and boxes).

9. Line up staff or volunteers to properly prepare the trees for distribution.

10. Have mayor proclaim appropriate week as "Project Greenleaf Week."

11. Contact news media - brief statement on project.

12. When trees arrive, store properly until you are ready to prepare them for delivery.

13. Prepare trees to safely last three or four days between delivery and actual planting. (Wrap newspaper, using only black and white print, around the roots; submerge the wrapped roots in water until the paper is thoroughly wet; place in plastic bag and twist the top of the bag and secure with a rubber band.) Take handout materials (helpful if they are all secured together) and roll around the plastic bag and secure with another rubber band.

14. Place appropriate number of trees in a brown bag with the school's name, instructor's name,

A tree for his generation

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 March/April 1981

and class grade and the number of trees per bag. Place a few extra trees in an extra bag for new students or miscounts. This will be placed in a box with all other bags going to the school. Deliver the trees to the schools on Thursday so the trees could be handed out on Friday and hopefully planted over the weekend with help from their parents.

Due to budget restraints, we could only hand out seedlings to the first, second, and third grade students in Belleville School Districts, which totaled 2,500 seedlings.

Materials on the seedlings were written using the imaginary friend technique so the students could identify with the seedlings as being a silent imaginary friend.

Along with the overwhelming success of the program, the environmental impact could hardly be measured. To further arouse interest of the students after the initial program, a first name and character figure contest for Mr. Greenleaf was offered. "Woodsy Owl" being the representative for "Don't Pollute," and "Smokey the Bear" for "Preventing Forest Fires," the students came up with "Forest Greenleaf," for the reforestation program. Now when Forest Greenleaf appears, the students can identify with the importance of trees in the environment.

Modifications to this program can be made to best serve your needs.

Our program was so successful that we had to share it with you. Good luck and keep growing.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 March/April 1981