Grace Inman is beautifying the Barrington High School campus.

As part of her senior project, Grace is spearheading a plan to line the new bus access road with 15 trees. Grace has selected Arbor Day (Friday, April 27) for the tree-planting. She is encouraging fellow Barrington High School students and other members of the community to participate.

"I have been working very closely with the department of public works to make sure that this event will go smoothly and successfully," Grace said. 

The idea to plant trees along the new bus and emergency access road at the high school can be traced to the St. Andrew's School campus.

"I had always admired the nice, neat row of trees across the street at St. Andrew's, and thought that BHS could benefit from some new trees of our own," said Grace. "Plus, after doing my senior paper on the benefits of trees I now know that trees can have a plethora of positive effects on people's health as well as people's perceptions of land. For example, trees secrete a chemical called phytoncides that has been found to reduce blood pressure, cortisol levels, and heart rate. Basically, it decreases stress."

Grace asked Barrington Town Council member Steve Boyajian to be her mentor. She has also worked with landscape architect Pat Sweeney to select the type of tree that will be planted — a Prairifire crabapple, which normally grows to about 20 feet tall and has deep pink-red flowers, followed by masses of small purplish-red crabapples.

Grace approached the school department administration and received approval for the planting project. She also approached local businesses, organizations and residents to raise money to off-set the costs. 

"In the end, I raised a little over $3,300," she said.

The Barrington High School senior has been working with officials from the Barrington Department of Public Works, who bought the 15 trees at a wholesale price. The DPW will also transport the trees to the high school on April 27.

"My hope is that as a result of my project, when students look outside the classroom windows, or when people drive past the school, they see these trees and feel appreciation for nature and for the environment in which they live and work," she said.

Anyone interested in helping Grace with the tree-planting on Friday, April 27 can write to her at inmang18@barringtonschools.org

Happy to help

A number of people and organizations have stepped up to help Grace Inman with her tree-planting senior project:

• The Barrington Department of Public Works

• East Bay Rowing

• Pilgrim Title

• Josten: Scholars Solutions inc.

• Barrington Garden Club

• McVay PT

• Lyle Richardson with High Rhode Building and Restoration

• Linda Carpenter on behalf of Butler Hospital and the Mood Disorders Research Program

• Debbi-Jo Horton and Michael DeAngelis in honor of Stanley P. DeAngelis

• Members of Barrington Education Foundation

• Sharon DeKadt

• Steve Boyajian

• John and Elaine Boyajian

• John Passante

• Alison K. Townsend

• Laurie Tickle and Ralph Coutant

• John and Nancy Brex

• Sam Read and the Read family