ReGreen Springfield

A team of second-year medical students from the The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, working with ReGreen Springfield, have just completed a study of the value of new trees planted in the GGCP neighborhoods. To view a copy of the report, visit https://www.regreenspringfield.org/wp-content/uploads/ReGreen%20Springfield%20GGCP%20i-Tree%20Landscape%20Analyses%20lo-rez.pdf

UMass Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Students Design Mason Square Branch Library Pollinator Garden

Over the past month, four UMass Amherst students of the Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning department have been analyzing possible sites for the design and planting of a pollinator garden in Springfield. They visited Mason Square Branch Library to determine the current conditions and possibilities for planting. Ultimately it was decided to concentrate efforts on the Mason Square Library site. Over the remaining weeks of the semester the students will further research and finalize a design for the site, returning in the spring to proceed with planting.

We can use some help on Friday, December 2nd from Noon – 3:00 PM to prepare the garden for planting this spring.  Please join us if you can!  Just come to the Mason Square Branch Library, 765 State Street, Springfield.  The garden is in the rear of the building.

The Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) is a 2- week clerkship that offers students from various medical disciplines an opportunity to learn more about healthcare disparities and specific health issues that affect urban and rural communities. Currently, the students in this program consist of medical students from UMASS Medical School, PAs from Bay Path University, and pharmacy students from Western New England University.

Over two weeks in October and November, 2022, four PURCH students will be working with ReGreen Springfield examining the tree canopy and environmental justice issues in the Upper Hill, McKnight and Old Hill Neighborhoods.  The ReGreen Springfield clerkship empowers students to advocate for additional tree planting in Springfield, Ma. This is the fifth year that ReGreen Springfield has participated in this program

This year, students have:

• Gathered data from the community to help identify social justice disparities and current gaps;
• Learned how to use  i-Tree software;
• Formulated an action plan;
• Attended community meetings;
• Designed informative flyers for the community;
• Engaged with the Springfield community about the benefits of tree planting.