Photograph by Mark Gilliland
This is one lesson that’s sure to be over students’ heads: As kids return to the Central West End’s New City School, they’ll learn about the environment from the most unlikely of places—the rooftop. With the help of Green Roof Blocks of Florissant, parents, teachers, and kids added eight species of perennials to the school’s 1,500-square-foot roof. The result? An improvement in storm-water retention and energy costs. “It’s the kind of step that will be a lesson for our students,” says Tom Hoerr, head of the school. “For the rest of their lives, they’ll remember being here. Hopefully, the day comes when they’ll be putting green roofs on their garages.”
