Residents, city and business green up city apartments

OCEANSIDE — Wakeland Housing & Development Corporation and the city of Oceanside teamed up with Country Club Apartment residents March 21 for the Country Club Apartments Tree Planting event in celebration of Arbor Day.
Country Club Apartments affordable housing is near the completion of a renovation project.
Wakeland, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, and the city of Oceanside forged a partnership, recognizing the benefits of trees for residents and the community. Tree and landscape installation addresses a variety of focus issues that include reducing energy costs, improving aesthetics, improving quality of life, improving economic sustainability, improving the air and water, providing wildlife habitat and promoting “green” awareness.
Street trees were provided by the Oceanside Public Works Department. The Engineering Division along with Wakeland, Portrait General Contractor, Schmidt Landscape Architecture, Artistic Maintenance and youth of Country Club Apartments partnered together in the design and planting of the trees within the public right-of-way. The effort was aimed at a community action to create sustainable urban community forests and provides an educational experience for those involved.
Delia B. Juncal, City Public Works landscape inspector and certified arborist, said, “In a society that stresses fast-pace technology, recent studies have indicated that our children are not connecting enough with the natural environment. It is imperative that we educate our youth about the benefits of trees in their community and to develop a sense of pride in their surroundings. By planting trees they learn the basics of tree care, teamwork, develop job skills, work ethics and are more apt to take ownership and protect the trees from vandalism.”