JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAMPUS TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR IMPACT REPORT

THE PROGRAMThe Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Campus Tree Canopy Enhancement Program is a groundbreaking partnership initiated by TreesLouisville in Fall 2015 with the goal of overall tree canopy improvement for the entire Louisville community. At the same time, we are creating mini arboreta at many campuses by planting a diverse assortment of tree species so that each campus offers a unique landscape experience and provides educational opportunities. 

The JCPS system consists of 150 schools and over 100,000 students. It is the 27th largest school system in the nation and comprises over 2,300 acres in Louisville. Many of these school campuses were found to have tree canopy cover percentages as low as 2%. The Campus Tree Canopy Enhancement Program (CTCEP) was created to provide immediate benefit to the school students and neighborhoods by planting trees in these much needed areas while setting the stage for further campus projects contributing to Louisville's long term livability.

THE PURPOSEA healthy tree canopy is a solution to many modern urban challenges.  Trees provide a broad spectrum of environmental, economic, and social benefits, many of which are quantifiable at the community level. These include improved air quality, storm water management, energy efficiency, mitigation of the heat island effect, reduced noise pollution, improved health outcomes in children and older populations withchronic illnesses, higher property values, and wildlife habitat.

Overall, Louisville's existing canopy provides its residents with almost $330 million in benefits annually. On top of the annual benefits, carbon stored over the lifetime of Louisville trees contributes an additional $230 million in benefits, bringing the collective benefit amount to $560 million. With that in mind, Louisville's tree canopy has been found to be rapidly declining over the last decade. Without dedicated planting efforts, our tree canopy could fall to as low as 21% -- a far cry from the recommended 40% average.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the areas identified by the 2015 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment as having low canopy cover also tend to have lower overall socioeconomic status and poorer health outcomes. Furthermore, according to a study by the Greater Louisville Project, out of 17 peer cities, Louisville ranks:

10th in average tree canopy coverage

15th for Air & Water Quality

17th place for air quality (pollution only)

By planting trees in areas of the most need, we aim to create a more EQUITABLE,

SUSTAINABLE and HEALTHY Louisville.

(Sources: MRLC, National Land Cover Database, County Health Rankings)

WHERE WE PLANTOur first priority is to plant in areas identified by the 2015 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment as low canopy or the areas identified by the 2016 Urban Heat Management Study as 'heat areas'. But it is not just about planting, it is about creating sustainable landscapes. That's why we require complete buy-in from a school's principal and other resource teachers. As long as we have science teachers, physical education teachers, counselor or librarians that are enthusiastic about trees, we feel that we will always have tree champions. We also work closely with grounds maintenance staff to ensure our landscape designs are as easy to maintain as possible. As part of our partnership with JCPS, we provide the trees, and they provide the long-term maintenance. 

WHAT WE PLANTWe strive to plant a wide variety of species, sourced locally and many native to Kentucky. We tailor our selections to each individual planting site, choosing trees for their aesthetic qualities and utility. For example, Bald Cypress, Swamp White Oaks and Sycamores might be planted in areas that are soggy or waterlogged.

2015-2016 Species Breakdown

Source: Louisville Metro UTC Fact Sheet; Davey Resource Group

714 trees

In our first year of the JCPS Campus Tree Canopy Enhancement Program, we planted...

...at 18 different schools1 Atherton High School

2 Barret Traditional Middle 3 Doss High School

4 Fairdale High School 5 Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North

6 Indian Trail Elementary 7 Jefferson County Traditional Middle

8 JFK Montessori 9 Kenwood Elementary

10 Lincoln Performing Arts Elementary 11 Maupin Elementary 12 Medora Elementary

13 Roosevelt-Perry Elementary 14 Rutherford Elementary 15 Shacklette Elementary

16 Stopher Elementary 17 Unseld Early Childhood Learning Center

18 Watson Lane Elementary

Each year, over

10,000students

The value of these trees will increase as the trees grow.

Over 30 years, these trees willprovide approximately

$336,657in ecosystem benefits, including

36.4 million gallons of stormwater intercepted

$21,555 saved in air quality improvement

3.7 million lbs of carbon dioxide sequestered from the atmosphere

$55,806 saved in heating and cooling costs

shaded play areas, encouraging outdoor recreation and local

community engagementincreased habitat for

local wildlife

will experience the benefits of these new trees.

All values calculated using USDA Forest Service iTree tool.

(Not to mention thousands of teachers and community members!)

VISION FOR THE FUTUREOur vision for the future is quite simple. We hope to create a more livable and healthy community for Louisville’s citizens. We believe that education is the key to expanding the public’s interest and investment in the community forest.

A FINAL NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

"I had the fortune of growing up in an environment rich in greenness. I am sure that is part of the reason that my career path has followed its course of community development through gardening and greening. I have said a number of times that I have spent my entire career preparing for this position as Executive Director of TreesLouisville.

I have studied the science of horticulture for decades. I have experienced the art that this same field inspires.  I have spent the majority of my working life communicating to a broad audience about the value of green infrastructure.

A healthy community forest is not an amenity; it is not a part of a plan that comes at the end of a project. It is a living utility. It is as valuable a part of our built environment as storm drains and roads. It is where the elements of a sustainable community intersect. It is not possible to have a healthy and sustainable community without the environmental, economic, health, and social benefits that trees provide." 

- Cindi Sullivan, Executive Director

It's important to point out that public schools are not just for the students that go there to learn. They are community facilities utilized by local residents who go there to walk and to take their children to play. The school grounds are used for sports activities and community meetings.   With greater public awareness of the value of the community forest and the alarming rate of tree loss that Louisville has experienced in the last several years, we hope to promote the preservation and expansion of the community tree canopy. 

What better place to start than on the campuses of our public schools? These planting projects will have a direct effect on the mental and physical health of a school’sstudents by creating learning environments with connections to the natural world and by providing ecosystem services of air quality improvement, storm water management, and heat and noise level reductions. The trees will be utilized for educational programming as well. 

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS AND SPONSORSINDIVIDUALS ORGANIZATIONS

The C. E. and S. Foundation Carl Ray Landscape Nursery Cleveland International Fund Community Foundation of Louisville ECT The Gheens Foundation The Humana Foundation Golden Oldies Old Savior Lutheran Church JBS USA LLC Jefferson County Public Schools Kroger Community Rewards Landscape Lighting Company Louisville Nursery Association Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP Nicklies Foundation Paradis Foundation Rambler Garden Club Ridge Wholesale Nursery St. Matthews Feed & Seed White Clay Consulting Whitehall House & Gardens

Mr. Frederick H. Albrink Ms. Maxine Bird Ms. Barbara G. Bloecher Mr. and Mrs. Charles Boyer Tina R. Brooks Mr. and Mrs. J. Macauley Brown Mr. and Mrs. William Creason Kate Cunningham Ms. Linda Miller Dabney Ms. Deborah Deppe Mr. Stan Devore Ms. Jan M. Grayson Mr. and Mrs. A. Davis Harcourt Brian F. Heil Mary Hunt Lynn & Joy Jamison Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Kunau Laura Lindeman David Lipp Mr. and Mrs. John Llewellyn Ms. Joy V. Long Ms. Nancy Loring Mr. and Mrs. Fred Louis Ms. Jessica LovingMary Lee M. Manier

Bruce Maples Mr. Edward C. McInnis and Ms. Patricia R. Payette Dr. and Mrs. Wes McConnell Annie and Paul McLaughlin Ms. Susan G. Mercke Ms. Judy Miller Ms. Jeannie K. Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Odea Lynn J. Osmond Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Schoening Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Sellers Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Sewell Ms. Virginia Shimrock Karen Siladi David Simcox Tracy Slone Jonathan Smith Mr. and Mrs. Latham Speiden Nicholas Stewart Mr. and Mrs. James Tafel Mr. and Mrs. Rob Webb Ms. Lisa M. Weisert Ms. Margaret Wilhelmus Dr. Wes Wilkinson Mrs. Jean Wilkinson Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Wilson

ABOUT TREESLOUISVILLE

TreesLouisville is a catalyst for broad civic engagement through public awareness, education, and engagement campaigns that promote preservation and expansion of the tree canopy as a communitywide

value and convene interest groups to focus on canopy improvement.

Our goal is to ensure that the public and private investment in increasing the community tree canopy is done strategically and collaboratively and to provide a framework for supporting and coordinating existing tree

planting organizations and efforts.

treeslouisville.org/donate

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To make a gift and support our work, visit:

info@treeslouisville.org