For years, the playground at Lincoln Elementary was essentially a concrete heat island. During the early fall and late spring, temperatures on the blacktop would soar, leaving the kids with nowhere to cool down during recess.
Tearing up the Asphalt
This past Saturday, an incredible group of 30 volunteers from the Treecause community showed up at 8:00 AM with shovels, pickaxes, and a whole lot of energy. With the school district's permission, we removed three 6x6 foot sections of asphalt to make room for our new additions.
"It is amazing what a group of dedicated neighbors can accomplish in a single morning. This shade will outlast all of us."
Planting the Red Maples
We chose Red Maples (Acer rubrum) because they grow relatively quickly, provide a wide, dense canopy of shade, and are native to our region. After digging the holes to the proper depth, we carefully set the root balls, backfilled the soil, and applied a thick mulch donut to retain moisture.
We can't wait to come back in a few years and see the kids reading, playing, and resting under the shade of these beautiful trees.