LaGrange, GA, February 15, 2007--Georgia Arbor Day is February 16. Celebrating Chairman Roger Milliken passion for trees and its successful Trees for All anniversary, Milliken Contract will partner with the Georgia Forestry Commission to introduce Making the Shade. The pilot program will increase safety on elementary school playgrounds through added shade protection. The program will launch February 16, the same day as Georgia Arbor Day. Providing healthy schools is a community priority. “Rising temperatures signal an unrecognized hazard for elementary schools,” said president of Milliken Floor Covering Division David Caples. “Milliken supports safe and healthy interiors with green products and extends our sustainable philosophy to improving safety and air quality outdoors.” With an enrollment of 503 students serving grades pre-K to five, Franklin Forest Elementary in LaGrange, Georgia, will serve as a pilot elementary playground. Making the Shade will reduce the effects of high temperatures and related health and safety concerns for the Troup County School System playground. “Not only will the trees provide much needed shade for our students on the playground areas, but they will also greatly add to the beauty of our campus,” said Franklin Forest Elementary School Principal Janet Johnson. The Georgia Forestry Commission consulted with Gullatte Associates in developing the treescape plan. The 65-pound trees planted on the elementary school campus are now approximately 12 feet high. They were selected to complement the existing landscape, while providing additional shade and safety. The Dura-Heat river birch will have a mature height of approximately 40 feet and provide about 40 feet of shade. This cultivar holds its leaves and provides beautiful yellow foliage in the fall. The treescape also includes nuttall oaks with a mature height of around 60 feet and a spread of about 40 feet each. The Georgia Forestry Commission research indicates compelling reasons to take action by adding shade trees to the landscape. Milliken partners with organizations like the Georgia Forestry Commission and National Arbor Day Foundation in these efforts. * Traditional elementary school campus design often eliminates the health benefits provided by shade trees. * Children are more susceptible to ground level ozone because they often play outside on hot, muggy days. * Children’s skin damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes of overexposure to the suns ultraviolet (UV) radiation. * Elevated playground temperatures reduce air quality and increase risks for children with asthma and other lung related issues. * Elevated surface temperatures of school yards and playground equipment can cause serious and painful burns to students. Milliken supports Making the Shade as an extension of its Trees For All initiative, reflecting concerns for healthy environments indoors and out. The modular carpet used inside Franklin Forest was installed with adhesive-free TractionBack, which improves Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by eliminating off-gassing, allowing everyone to breathe easier. The patented system prevents lateral movement, even in high traffic areas while allowing easy lifting of individual tiles for underfloor access or replacement. Carpet in school environments adds insulation that reduces noise, controls temperature and conserves energy. "The Franklin Forest Elementary Making the Shade project serves as a model for other schools," said Steve Smith, Georgia Forestry Commission community forester. "We assist communities in conserving trees for environmental and health benefits and urge school districts to preserve and plant trees."
Providing healthy schools is a community priority. “Rising temperatures signal an unrecognized hazard for elementary schools,” said President of Milliken Floor Covering Division David Caples. “Milliken supports safe and healthy interiors with green products and extends our sustainable philosophy to improving safety and air quality outdoors.”
With an enrollment of 503 students serving grades pre-K to five, Franklin Forest Elementary in LaGrange, Georgia, will serve as a pilot elementary playground. Making the Shade will reduce the effects of high temperatures and related health and safety concerns for the Troup County School System playground.
“Not only will the trees provide much needed shade for our students on the playground areas, but they will also greatly add to the beauty of our campus,” said Franklin Forest Elementary School Principal Janet Johnson.
The Georgia Forestry Commission consulted with Gullatte Associates in developing the treescape plan. The 65-pound trees planted on the elementary school campus are now approximately 12 feet high. They were selected to complement the existing landscape, while providing additional shade and safety. The Dura-Heat river birch will have a mature height of approximately 40 feet and provide about 40 feet of shade from plantings of three. This cultivar holds its leaves and provides beautiful yellow foliage in the fall. The treescape also include nuttall oaks with a mature height around 60 feet and a spread of about 40 feet each.
The Georgia Forestry Commission research indicates compelling reasons to take action by adding shade trees to the landscape. Milliken partners with organizations like the Georgia Forestry Commission and National Arbor Day Foundation in these efforts.
* Traditional elementary school campus design often eliminates the health benefits provided by shade trees.
* Children are more susceptible to ground level ozone because they often play outside on hot, muggy days.
* Children’s skin damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes of overexposure to the suns ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
* Elevated playground temperatures reduce air quality and increase risks for children with asthma and other lung related issues.
* Elevated surface temperatures of school yards and playground equipment can cause serious and painful burns to students.
Milliken supports Making the Shade as an extension of its Trees For All initiative, reflecting concerns for healthy environmentsindoors and out. The modular carpet used inside Franklin Forest was installed with adhesive-free TractionBack®, which improves Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by eliminating off-gassing, allowing everyone to breathe easier. The patented system prevents lateral movement, even in high traffic areaswhile allowing easy lifting of individual tiles for underfloor access or replacement. Carpet in school environments adds insulation that reduces noise, controls temperature and conserves energy.
"The Franklin Forest Elementary Making the Shade project serves as a model for other schools," said Steve Smith, Georgia Forestry Commission community forester. "We assist communities in conserving trees for environmental and health benefits and urge school districts to preserve and plant trees."
Milliken Contract (www.sustainablecarpet.com <http://www.sustainablecarpet.com/> ), based in LaGrange, Georgia, is an international manufacturer of carpet and rugs that shares an eco-heritage which has earned Milliken & Company global respect for sustainable leadership and innovation. While Milliken forests sequester millions of pounds of carbon dioxide annually, the company partners with national, state and community organizations through initiatives like Trees For All, to educate the supply chain about the benefits of planting trees.
The Georgia Forestry Commission provides leadership, service, and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia's forest resources.
