Wisconsin Chapter

Lincoln Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin is one of the city's most diverse and energetic grade schools. Built in 1965 on a former golf course, the school occupies most of a city block that is largely bare of plantings, has minimal play equipment and has functional problems related to access and bus drop-off.

The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects decided to undertake an educational program for young children and provide design services to a site in need, Lincoln School provided the ideal setting.

In 1998, a committee of WASLA members began preparing a master plan for the school grounds. During the spring semester, Lincoln students were introduced to the concepts of landscape architectural design and were encouraged to contribute design ideas to the master plan. Later that year, the WASLA was awarded an urban forestry grant from the Wisconsin DNR. In addition to funding tree planting, the grant provided monies for field trips to forests and the purchase of tree- and foresty- related curriculum materials.

The children of Lincoln Elementary school anxiously await the planting of a tree in celebration of Arbor Day. Twenty-five trees, donated by Herman Landscape Services, were planted with a large tree spade operated by Steve Lingard, a Madison-area nurseryman.

A primary goal for the funding was the implementation of the "school forest" component of the master plan. The forest was proposed for the southern end of the lot and was intended to provide educational opportunities for students and enhance the campus by screening apartment development to the south. Planting was scheduled for Arbor Day, April 30th, 1999. The celebration eclipsed any event the school had ever sponsored.

Twenty-five trees were planted with a large tree spade operated by Steve Lingard, a Madison-area nurseryman who specializes in planting large trees. Trees were donated by Herman Landscape Services. The day included a ceremony in the gym featuring the children singing songs and reciting poems about trees. Art work and creative writing projects were inspired by the celebration.

Over the summer, the Town of Madison Fire Department watered the trees. All of the trees survived the first year after planting and plans were made for another Arbor Day celebration in 2000. On April 26th, three trees were planted by Lingard and this year the celebration included an award ceremony. Wisconsin Arborist Association President, David Stephenson presented two plaques-one to Lincoln School and one to WASLA-from the International Society of Arboriculture, in recognition of the Arbor Day celebration in 1999 and WASLA's role in planning the event. In turn, WASLA president Paul Skidmore presented Lincoln School with a stone commemorating the centennial of the ASLA, with hopes it will be placed in paving at the school.

Lincoln teachers have used the emerging forest for classroom activities and to stimulate interest in campus planting and other garden activities. The project was a success by any measure-education, celebration and beautification. One can only guess at the appreciation of the forest by future generations. If Lincoln students embrace the concepts of conservation and community planning, and learned something about landscape architecture, the WASLA can consider the effects of this project doubly long lasting. LASN