February 7, 2005 for immediate release

The Schoolof Environmental Planning at UNBC ispartnering with the City of Prince George and REAPS to create nearly $2 million dollarsworth of sustainable landscaping around the city over the next five years. 

The project will involve a mixof test planting and seeding on various sites, trial plots, demonstrationgardens, and laboratory research, all aimed at discovering the mostsustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost effective landscape treatmentsfor Prince George’sclimate.

The partnership is expected toresult in 30 acres of City property being converted to low-mow grass andwildflower mixes in place of higher maintenance lawns, as well as variouscombinations of native and north-hardy shrubs and perennials.

 “This is a great project that has really comealong at exactly the right time, as we are dealing with the Pine Beetleaftermath,” says Mark Fercho, Manager of Environmental Services for the City. “Thisinitiative fits well with our existing programs, and gives our staff a chanceto get some questions about pest resistance and different maintenance regimesanswered.”

The city’s landscape has beenchanging radically over the past year, as more than 16,000 pine trees on Cityproperty alone have been removed as a result of the Mountain Pine Beetleepidemic.  In addition to this, growingconcerns over water conservation, climate change, and the use of herbicides andpesticides are motivating this multi-disciplinary look at better and perhapsmore beautiful ways to landscape.

REAPS (Recycling andEnvironmental Action Planning Society) has been at the forefront of sustainablelandscaping since 1995, points out Environmental Educator Terri McClymont.  “This new partnership is very exciting for us,and we are looking forward to being part of a project that will help us, as acommunity, reduce the resources that go into creating and maintaininglandscapes. As part of Communities in Bloom, we are also delighted about thebeautification aspect, of course.”

Sites targeted for the initialphase of the five year project include Carrie Jane Grey Park, Studio 2880,University Way Boulevard, UNBC, sections of Highway 97, and the RegionalCorrectional Centre grounds.

 “It is due to the foresight of the PrinceGeorge City Council and city staff, as well as our funders and partners, thatthis project has come together so quickly,” says Dr Annie Booth of the School of Environmental Planning at UNBC who isworking with fellow UNBC Planning professor Eric Rapaport on the project. “Itpromises to be very excitingand useful at the same time.”

The project is being funded by theCity, the Vancouver Foundation, the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia,the Ministry of Transport, and UNBC. Other community partners include the DavidDouglas Botanical Garden Society, Prince George Communities in Bloom, theWinter Cities Commission, the Prince George Youth Custody Centre, and thePrince George Regional Correctional Centre.