Trees at Grady High

By Maria Saporta

Last week, several large trees were cut down at Grady High School – some anticipated and some not.

Grady is undergoing an expansion, and the way the new building was designed, it meant that two magnificent trees would have to go. That happened last week.

But at the same time, three other significant, healthy trees on the front lawn were cut down – to the surprise of nearby residents.

At a community meeting last summer, the late Alvah Hardy (director of facilities for the Atlanta Public Schools) said the district’s plans had changed so that no trees on the front lawn would need to be cut down. Instead, Hardy said two trees would be transplanted rather than removed. And two existing trees were replanted in the front lawn.

But then on April Fool’s Day, three other trees were taken down.

What messages are we sending our students and our community when APS is cutting down trees – one of the best ways to fight climate change and to beautify our environment?

What messages are we sending when we cut down grand trees for a new building rather than looking at ways to design around our green infrastructure?

And what messages will we be sending if we develop a parking lot on Grady’s front lawn – that cars are more important than our quality of life?

We can do better.