September 29, 2015 – Water conservation and a little inspiration – that was all it took to turn a neglected courtyard at Cochran Elementary School in west Dallas into a water efficient outdoor classroom and native garden that will teach and delight thousands of students for years to come.
The 20,000-square foot project was awarded to the school after the City of Dallas won the 2014 National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, a national community service initiative to promote efficient water use in all 50 states. The campaign is presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota North America, with support from the EPA, The Toro Company and Dallas-based landscape firm, Texas Land Care among others.
The Cochran Elementary School project, which officially broke ground on April 9, 2015 with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, redesigned the school’s interior courtyard with Texas native trees, plants and grasses, decomposed granite pathways, and low-cost water efficient irrigation and weather sensors. The new courtyard also includes a student garden for each grade level.
“This is a great example of how we can rethink the way that we use water in our communities,” said artist Wyland, president of the Wyland Foundation. “Water conservation and maintenance are a big concern with schools in water stressed areas. The Toro WaterSmart® irrigation products that went into this project not only help stretch limited supplies of water, they were instrumental in facilitating a project that needed seamless automation to ensure its sustainability for years to come.”
Despite record rainfall this summer, drought conditions still loom over much of Texas. The use of Texas native plants as part of the Cochran project means less fertilizer, reduced runoff and water pollution, lower maintenance needs, and an opportunity for students to learn about the Texas prairie and other associated plant communities as they tend their individual gardens. The plants for each garden were chosen by each grade level as a group project. Robert Farnsworth, chair of horticulture and landscape design at Saddleback College in California, specializes in water efficient design and provided design services for the project. Texas Land Care of Dallas and The Toro Company contributed installation services and irrigation, respectively, with underwriting for the project from the Wyland Foundation, Toyota, and a grant from Melody and David Howell.
The drip irrigation system provided by Toro will establish the native plants and trees and sustain them in periods of severe rainfall shortage by applying water at ground level under a mulch layer that will protect against evaporation and wind. The system will be controlled by a Toro® EVOLUTION® controller and includes an on-site weather sensor that precisely adjusts watering based on weather conditions, eliminating unnecessary watering and restricting irrigation during rainy or frozen conditions.
As a result of the project, it is estimated that the school will save over 250,000 gallons of water each year versus a conventional irrigated lawn area.
Prior to this, the school’s courtyard relied only on rainwater that was not functional for use by the school. With minimal cost, it now becomes a multi-use landscape for students to nurture and discover for years to come. “We are so blessed to now have a wonderful living educational garden at this school said Monica Alonzo, City of Dallas Mayor Pro Tem. “It creates a great atmosphere for the children to learn. And thanks to The Toro Company for providing a water-saving smart irrigation system to help manage our gorgeous garden”.
About The Toro Company
The Toro Company is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf, snow and ground engaging equipment, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With sales of $2.2 billion in fiscal 2014, Toro’s global presence extends to more than 90 countries. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, Toro and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers care for golf courses, landscapes, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural fields. For more information, visit www.toro.com.
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993 by environmental artist Wyland (best known for his series of 100 monumental marine life murals), the Wyland Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is actively engaged in teaching millions of students around the country about our oceans, rivers, lakes streams and wetlands. www.wylandfoundation.org
