Press Room
Landscapers Brave Thunderstorms to Help Keep Grounds Maintained
at Liberty World War I War Memorial
April 2010
The Greater Kansas City area members of PLANET, the Professional
Landcare Network, began this Earth Day with a donation of several
thousand dollars of labor and supplies to keep the grounds at The
Liberty World War I War Memorial beautiful.
Area landscapers worked
for half the day before thundershowers drove them off the Liberty
war memorial grounds. But they’ll be back on May 14th to finish
their work and keep their promise.
Earth Day is designed to inspire
awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded
in 1970 and is held every year on April 22.
PLANET, the Professional
Landcare Network, is a national association serving lawn care professionals,
landscape management contractors, design/build/installation professional,
and interior plantscapers.
Last year, PLANET started a nation-wide "Local
Day of Service”. Local manufacturer PBI/Gordon Corporation
selected the Liberty Memorial World War I Museum for a Day of Service
project in 2009. The Memorial had many projects with which they needed
assistance, so PBI/Gordon came back this year to continue the work.
The concept of the Day of Service is for industry professionals to
demonstrate environmental stewardship by giving back to our communities.
Members decided that Earth Day was the perfect time for such a project.
Healthy green spaces are a vital every community. They provide oxygen,
control erosion and help keep air temperatures cooler than bare ground.
As a steward of our environment, the green industry plays a vital
role in creating these spaces.
The Liberty Memorial is a Kansas City
landmark and is the only museum in the United States dedicated to
World War I. They come under the umbrella of the National Historic
Society. Each and every new tree, bush, flower, grass must match
the original variety planted when the memorial was finished in 1923.
For example, only white swamp oak or Japanese tree lilacs can be
planted on the premises. The memorial grounds have 27.55 acres of
turf grass and the mall itself is 75,000 square feet. The Liberty
Memorial has a maintenance crew of one - aside from the landscape
company that mows the grounds.
Earth Day, PLANET's Local Day of Service,
brings together many local professionals to the Liberty World War
I memorial grounds. Planter beds are weeded and mulched. Overgrown
brushes are cut. Trees are trimmed. Sprinkler heads fixed. It’s
a hot, hard job, but the satisfaction, according to participants,
is inspiring!
Press Contacts
Mary Ellen Scheib
Marketing Specialist
(816) 460-6216 |
