March 28, 2024

East Providence to Hold First Outdoor Classroom in New Tree Grove

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East Providence, RI – The City of East Providence, together with the East Providence Urban Forest, will launch the City’s first outdoor environmental education classroom in a grove featuring native tree species.

In April 2021, the City announced that it received a $20,000 TD Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group (TD) and the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative urban greening and tree planting projects in underserved neighborhoods. East Providence was one of 20 U.S. and Canadian cities selected to receive that grant. The grove and outdoor classroom are a result of the grant.

The project, coordinated by the City of East Providence Planning Department and EP Urban Forest, includes the planting of a grove with 13 native tree species, along with environmental education sessions for all grades from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. The outdoor classroom features tables and benches specially made from recovered wood by the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council River Rangers.

The City of East Providence Parks Department also donated granite for additional classroom seating and non-treated, playground-grade mulch.

WHO:
• Members of EP Urban Forest
• Mayor Bob DaSilva
• Whiteknact Principal Laurie Marchand
• Whiteknact student band and chorus will perform

WHAT:
• Welcoming remarks from EP Urban Forest Founder Jenn Tierney and Mayor Bob DaSilva.
• Grove visitors will be greeted by an information kiosk and community bulletin board featuring students’ artwork on the grove’s native tree species.
• A ceremony, open to the public, will be held honoring local members of the Pokanoket Tribe/Pokanoket Nation.
• The Whiteknact student band and chorus will also perform in public for the first time this year.

WHEN: Monday, May 23 @ 1:30 PM

WHERE: Behind Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School, 261 Grosvernor Ave. East Providence

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