Belle Isle gets 1,000 new trees

Volunteers planted 1,000 tree seedlings on Belle Isle earlier this month to help fight pollution.

The Greening of Detroit, Detroit Recreation Department, DTE Energy and U.S. Forest Service participated in the project, part of the Super Bowl XL Carbon Neutral Initiative.

The program was designed by the NFL to help combat increased levels of carbon monoxide created during the Super Bowl festivities. The same program was initiated for last year’s game in Jacksonville, Fla.

The number of trees needed is determined by estimating the number of people that will be present at all the events and how much carbon monoxide will be generated. In addition to the 1,000 seedlings planted on Belle Isle, another 1,500 will be planted around the metro area.

“This is a step in the right direction for the NFL to be environmentally sensitive to the community,” says Ashley Atkinson, project manager of The Greening of Detroit. “They are leading by example.”

Source: Ashley Atkinson, project manager of The Greening of Detroit

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