The Tree Bank Foundation

Shade Trees on Playgrounds (STOP)

Background

Oklahoma faces a growing, frightening threat – skin cancer. With the highest per capita mortality rate from malignant melanoma in the U.S., Oklahoma is positioned to succumb to a growing problem of inattention to our skin or we are positioned to lead the fight in lowering the risk of melanoma in our state. The Tree Bank Foundation in cooperation with its partners is championing the fight and starting with our most vulnerable citizens: our children.

Shade Trees on Playgrounds (STOP) is a new Tree Bank Foundation program designed to provide large, quality shade trees to playgrounds, parks, ball fields and other places children play in the sun.
     • Planted over one hundred trees
     • 11 locations near playgrounds in Oklahoma
     • Yukon, Ardmore, Oklahoma City, Norman, Depew and Pauls Valley

Educational Materials for the STOP Program are FREE online and focus on health and tree issues.
     • EPA Sunwise Program http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/educator_resources.html
     • Project Learning Tree http://www.forestry.ok.gov/project-learning-tree
     • Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Sun Safety Resources
          http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/pdf/toolkit/GuidelineToolsResources.pdf

Funding

     • Chesapeake Energy’s donation purchased 5-8 foot tall trees and portable irrigation
     • Oklahoma Forestry Services and the U.S. Forest Service provided funding for project management and technical
          expertise by Cross Timbers Forestry
     • Total Environment Wholesale Nursery discounted tree prices on large, high quality trees
     • The Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Council provided portable irrigation
     • Private donors donated land, staff, labor and equipment for the playgrounds
     • Oklahoma State Department of Health has offer educational materials

The Tree Bank Foundation did not receive any financial compensation from these donations. All of the donated funds were used to purchase trees, project supplies, and materials and to hire professional foresters to assist with the program.

Projects

Yukon Parks and Recreation Department

Thunderbird State Park has completed a massive renovation of the South Dam Campground, including redesigning campsites and renovating the playground.
     • 25 trees
     • Portable irrigation
     • Federal and state donations for site development and playground renovation

Projects like Thunderbird’s allow the Tree Bank to provide much needed resources to a popular Oklahoma attraction by filling a niche in a larger project.

Southwest Park, Ardmore Parks and Recreation Department

Southwest Park in Ardmore is now providing playgrounds and shade to a section of the community for the first time.
     • 25 trees
     • Potable irrigation
     • Private and city donations of land, site design,
          equipment and labor

This park is being funded in large part through private donations, showing the power of citizen advocacy and how far a good idea can go with child-, health- and tree-focused projects.

Thunderbird State Park

Thunderbird State Park has completed a massive renovation of the South Dam Campground, including redesigning campsites and renovating the playground.
     • 25 trees
     • Portable irrigation
     • Federal and state donations for site development and playground renovation

Projects like Thunderbird’s allow the Tree Bank to provide much needed resources to a popular Oklahoma attraction by filling a niche in a larger project.