Mountain Middle School recently received a $2,000 grant from the Colorado Tree Coalition to start several projects aimed at restoring and improving some of the school’s outdoor spaces.
The project, called “Trees are the answer!” is intended to “encourage and educate future generations to the principles of planting, nurturing and sustaining a healthy tree population,” a news release said.
This year, Mountain Middle School will focus on two areas of school grounds void of trees.
According to the news release, the project will target the north side of campus, where “once stood a beautiful grove of Elms, but has been neglected.” The school will plant four to five trees that will create a “beautiful buffer” between the school and 31st Street.
“The goal is to restore this public City right-of-way back to the beauty of the 1800s,” the news release stated.
The second area involves an agreement with the city of Durango to build a new playground and park-like setting for the surrounding neighborhood, which currently does not have green space.
The school intends to plant four to five trees for shade on the west-facing classrooms, the playground, a new meditation alcove and two outdoor kiva-like classrooms, according to the news release.
