Gwinnett's green well under control

   The construction at the end of my neighborhood for the new Trickum Middle School is not a pretty sight: Mounds of dirt, stretches of concrete, orange fences and cones. I miss the wooded lot that used to be there. But I don't worry about what's to come because Paul Greenwell is in charge.

   In the late eighties, when Gwinnett County was the fastest growing county in the nation, developers razed lots to construct new schools and add on to old ones. GCPS landscapers and engineers were concerned about the loss of so many mature trees and also knew the cost of new trees that were big enough to significantly contribute to lush landscaping. 

   Greenwell said they wanted to be good stewards, so they came up with a plan. 
In 1987, GPCS purchased a tree spade hoping to dig up and reuse all trees in the county that were lost to construction for reuse on school property. However, there was neither enough manpower nor time to save every tree in Gwinnett, so they focused on the trees on public school grounds.

   Saving and reusing trees became a yearlong project. The crew carefully keeps track of construction schedules. Maintenance workers dig up trees and bring them back to the nurseries behind the main building. Here the crew nurtures them until a new school is ready for landscaping.

   Greenwell, GCPS grounds coordinator and 2004 National Arbor Day Award Nominee, said their budget is remarkably small. In 16 years, wire baskets and burlap have cost the county less than $1,000. The tree spade was the only significant expense and Greenwell notes that their mechanics carefully maintain it. 
"Tree spades usually don't last that long," he said, giving credence to their mission of being good stewards of everything in their care.

   Since 1987, nearly 250 trees have been reused on over 30 sites, saving the county tens of thousands of dollars and giving Gwinnett principals a sort of "green peace" about their campuses. When principals know their building will be expanded, they lament the loss of trees that must be bulldozed for new construction, but are happy to know their trees can be salvaged for another school. Principals of new schools who assume their buildings will be surrounded by skinny little seedlings are thrilled to see that their landscaping includes mature trees up to 27 feet tall. My son Leif who's worked summers as a landscaper said, "Some of the bigger trees could cost a couple of grand each." Trees like the ones at J. A. Alford Elementary School in Lawrenceville would be totally out of the budget were they to be purchased new.

   If you can't stand the sight of all the red clay, brown stumps and gray concrete at a school construction site near you, don't despair. Everything will green up well because the man in charge works hard to live up to his name.

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