LEWISBURG (WVDN) – The Lewisburg Foundation has launched a new beautification project, the Tree Replacement Program.
Many people know that Lewisburg is a beautifully landscaped town, but perhaps they haven’t given much thought to the work that goes into beautification and the people who make it happen.
The Lewisburg Foundation is one of several volunteer organizations that works to make sure the town’s landmarks, trees and floral landscapes look their best and are taken care of year-round.
The Lewisburg Foundation, a nonprofit group formed by city business leaders in 1980 to address the survival of the downtown business area, has been beautifying the city ever since its inception.
They have created and maintained gateway park areas, downtown gardens, Washington Street parkettes and historic district signage. When you see flowers or sculptures in the city, the Lewisburg Foundation probably had something to do with it.
Recently, Lewisburg Foundation Next (LFNXT), funded by a large endowment, has been created by the Lewisburg Foundation to address the next 100 years of beautification of the city.
The Tree Replacement Program (TRP) is one of LFNXT’s first big projects, with the TRP currently in the process of planting 15 good-sized trees in the community. The goal is to plant 200 trees over the next 10 years.
“Trees are the lungs of our community. Trees grace our city with beauty and add to our quality of life by cleaning our air and giving us shade and shelter,” members of the Lewisburg Foundation said in a press release.
“Lewisburg has been graced with an urban forest of large trees. Yet, many of our oldest trees have been removed from our landscape due to poor health. Add to that the recent loss of our ash trees, the attack on our hemlocks and dogwoods and the removal of trees for urban development, and we realize it’s time to act. It’s time to focus on the future,” the press release said.
On Monday, Nov. 21, Lewisburg Foundation Vice President Josh Polan was joined by Riverbend Nursery owner Byron Black to plant several trees in Lewisburg as part of the TRP.
Polan, Black and a crew from Riverbend Nursery planted red sunset maples at the small parking lot overlooking the football field at Hollowell Park.
Polan explained that the red sunset maples will produce great fall color and make great shade trees. That shade, he said, will help to mitigate the “hardscape” of the parking lot and nearby Matthews Street.
According to Polan, research shows that cities with healthy “greenscapes,” i.e., plenty of trees and plants, tend to have an average temperature about 10 degrees lower than those without any trees.
So, he said, not only will the maples provide nice shade for cars parked in the lot, they’ll also bring down the ambient temperature in that area.
“Trees keep our communities healthy,” Polan said, and the Tree Replacement Program not only will beautify the city, it will also help combat climate change with large, shade trees and smaller, decorative trees.
“We’re replacing trees that have died over the last few decades,” Polan said, noting that the species they are planting are disease resistant.
Polan, Black and the Riverbend crew also planted red bud and disease-resistant dogwoods at the corner of Holt Lane and Rt. 219 on Nov. 21.
Polan said the Lewisburg Foundation is 100% volunteer run, and they are seeking new members. The foundation’s entire budget, he said, comes from donations and membership. For more information on the Lewisburg Foundation, contact Tag and Annabelle Galyean at tag@tagstudio.com or 304-647-3520.
Meanwhile, the TRP’s administrator, Rod Curry, may approach citizens about a location to plant trees.
You can also contact Curry to register your interest in the Tree Replacement Program and suggest a location. If the location seems both beneficial and feasible, he will arrange a site visit.
For more information on the TRP, contact Curry at rjc4872@gmai.com or 303-359-9649. Brochures about this project are also available at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center.
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| Riverbend Nursery workers plant trees at Hollowell Park as part of the Lewisburg Foundation’s Tree Replacement Project. Photo by Sarah Mansheim |
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| A row of red sunset maples planted at Hollowell Park is part of the Lewisburg Foundation’s Tree Replacement Project. Photo by Sarah Mansheim |
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| Riverbend nursery workers plant trees at Hollowell Park as part of the Lewisburg Foundation’s Tree Replacement Project. Photo by Sarah Mansheim |
