News Release
1/9/2017
Aurora, ON – During the 2015-16 school year, the York Region District School Board received 60 applications for school grounds enhancement projects. Projects ranged from simple tree plantings to outdoor classrooms to naturalized play spaces and more. The Board collaborated with Evergreen and The Regional Municipality of York to develop guidelines to ensure school projects are Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)-compliant, inclusive, safe, sustainable, low maintenance and vandal-resistant.
Highlights of the collaboration include:
•Development of specifications for accessible and safe projects such as raised planter boxes, outdoor classrooms and armour stone seating
•Development of a Top Performing Native Tree Species list
•Development of guidelines to help schools implement and maintain successful and sustainable greening projects
•Providing assistance and advice to ensure newly planted trees are surviving and thriving
•Reviewing applications and providing expertise and assistance in school ground naturalization projects
•Providing technical assistance through specialist staff such as professional foresters, certified arborists, etc.
“At the York Region District School Board, our goal is to deliver effective, innovative and sustainable educational programs for students. By collaborating with community organizations, we can create safe and welcoming outdoor learning environments that engage all of our students,” said Loralea Carruthers, Chair of the York Region District School Board.
“Evergreen believes that when designing natural outdoor play and learning environments for children and youth, it must be designed to meet the needs and range of abilities of the whole school community,” said
Cam Collyer, Executive Director of Programs, at Evergreen.
“By enhancing our school grounds we are allowing our children to gain a better appreciation of the environment and the need to preserve and protect it for future generations,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “Preserving and expanding our green spaces is a priority for Regional Council and is an important part of our Strategic Plan and Greening Strategy. Initiatives like these contribute significantly to our excellent way of life.”
To learn more about York Region’s Greening Strategy, tree planting incentive programs and educational opportunities, and how they can help grow greener community, please visit the York Region website.
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