Point Pleasant, W.Va. (WVDN) – Thanks to the West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (WVNLA) and hard-working students, the front entrance of the Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School has received a landscaping enhancement.
The WVNLA board of directors — at their October 22 meeting — approved a $2,000 donation to the school to help facilitate the landscaping project, which was overseen by Bud Cottrill, professional landscaper and a member of the WVNLA board.
Bud Cottrill said the project entailed the addition of high-quality topsoil, mulch, decorative stone, 15 ornamental grasses, and eight flowering bushes to create an inviting, sustainable, and visually appealing landscape.
“The landscaping area at the front of the school is highly visible to students, staff, families, and community members who use our facility nearly seven days a week for various events and programs,” said William Cottrill, principal of Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School. He added that visitors walk and drive past the entrance for school activities, athletic events, community meetings, and county and state functions.
William Cottrill said the project was a collaborative effort between Discover Your Future (DYF) classes and the Tu-Endie-Wei Garden Club based in Point Pleasant, combining hands-on student learning with community partnership. DYF students took the lead in project planning, design, and installation, giving them practical experience in landscaping, budgeting, and community service.
Robert Gompers, WVNLA president, who owns Highland Landscaping in Buckhannon, W.Va., said this community project will directly contribute to a lasting improvement that benefit students, parents, teachers and the broader community. “The Point Pleasant beautification hits all of our criteria — community and educational Impact, student involvement, community collaboration, and facility enhancement,” explained Gompers.
