Glenside Elementary School
400 Harrison Avenue
Glenside, PA 19038
Native Plantings
In Spring 2009, 10,000 square feet of lawn grass along the fence behind the Glenside Elementary School were replaced with native trees, shrubs and grasses. These plantings provide a much-needed buffer between the massive school lawn and the creek that runs alongside it.
Glenside Elementary students, PTO members and local volunteers collaborated to remove invasive vines and bushes overrunning the area and plant over 400 native trees and shrubs in their place. An educational sign and seating area will be installed for student use.
The project will improve the health of the creek while providing students with hands-on learning about watershed ecology and protection. Native plants help absorb stormwater to slow flooding, prevent erosion of the creek’s banks, and keep fertilizers, salt, trash and other pollutants out of the creek’s waters. Native plants also provide important habitat for birds, fish, and other native wildlife crucial to the ecosystem.The project is highly supported by the school district as well, since it will contribute to the LEED certification of the new, “green” school building.
Partners:
- Cheltenham School District
- Cheltenham Township’s Environmental Advisory Council
- Glenside Elementary School
- Glenside Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization
- NAM Planning & Design
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership
- TreeVitalize
Contact:
Sarah RobbGrieco
Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership
215.208.1613
info@ttfwatershed.org

