Project EverGreen volunteers work with sod at a recreation area in Greensboro, North Carolina.Photo: Project EverGreen
Project EverGreen, a national non-profit promoting the value of preserving and revitalizing managed green spaces, brought its “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” initiative to parks in Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina.
The North Carolina projects represent three of more than a dozen “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” initiatives that are scheduled for completion across the country in 2016.
Working in partnership with the city Parks and Recreation Departments in Durham and Greensboro, Project EverGreen and landscaping industry volunteers provided materials and labor – valued at more than $21,000 – to restore more than 135,000 square feet of playing surfaces.
The work was completed at Greensboro’s Penn-Wright and Levette baseball fields and Durham’s Red Maple Park.
The volunteer effort included weed control and fertilization; reseeding and application of soil top dressing; installing infield arc and outfield edge sod; and excavating, grading and replacing the infield surfaces with a new clay mixture.
In addition, work at each facility included the installation of new plant material and trees, brush removal and tree trimming, and general clean-up of green spaces.
Project EverGreen and its partners completed renovations involving nearly 135,000 square feet of playing surfaces and valued at more than $21,000.Photo: Project EverGreen
North Carolina green industry volunteers that supported the Durham Red Maple Park project included Albaugh LLC, Brickman Group, Cardinal, Nufarm and SipcamAdvan. Joining the effort were several Durham community volunteers, including Patricia Nobles James, a Red Maple Park community resident and founder of the Durham Long Ball Project benefitting inner-city youth baseball players.
Greensboro project contributors included Nature’s Select Premium Turf Services and partner company New Garden Select, Site One Landscape Supply and Syngenta Lawn & Garden employee volunteers.
“Our mission is to preserve and enhance green spaces where we live, work and play,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Parks, sports fields and recreational play areas are vital to healthy, thriving communities. One of the ways we demonstrate our commitment is by mobilizing generous local green industry contractor volunteers and corporate partners to donate their time, treasure and talents to make this valuable initiative possible.”
Project EverGreen’s “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” is a nationwide initiative to renovate and revitalize parks and athletic fields to ensure children have access to safe, managed green spaces on which to play and exercise.
“Given the need for improvements and the substantial use both fields endure, the two fields were ideal to meeting the goals of Project EverGreen,” says Wade Walcutt, director of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. “This turf-repair project with Project EverGreen shows our department’s commitment to creating economic impacts, advancing conservation, rejuvenating health and wellness, and enhancing quality of life in Greensboro.”
For information on how you can start a revitalization project in your community, visit www.ProjectEverGreen.org or call (877) 758-4835.
