New trees take root at Franklin Elementary

Franklin Elementary School in Kensington now has 15 new trees on its campus, thanks to the hard work of its students and local officials.

In honor of Arbor Week in San Diego, Superintendent-Designate Cindy Marten and San Diego City Council Member Marti Emerald joined Urban Corps of San Diego County, local community members, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and 15 students and staff from Franklin to plant 15 trees around the perimeter of the school’s campus.

The trees will be cared for by a special Watering Club at Franklin, with assistance from Kensington volunteers, including the Garden Angels, who are currently attending garden plots on Adams Avenue. Volunteers will use specially donated wagons to help carry the water over the next few years until the trees fully take root.

Funding for the trees is being provided by the City of San Diego and SDG&E, both of whom are partnered with the Urban Corps – a non-profit conservation corps and charter school – to plant trees while providing job training and educational opportunities to youth. Students will also participate in an SDG&E TreeSmart educational workshop presented by Urban Corps in order to learn more about the benefits of trees and why these trees were selected for planting.

For more information on the Franklin tree planting, contact Principal Akoni Derige at (619) 344-3000.