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RENO, Nev. (AP) — Five 40-foot trees that once provided shade and ambiance at the Getchell Library at the University of Nevada, Reno have been uprooted and replanted at a new location on campus.
The red maples were removed when the building constructed in 1962 was demolished last year to make way for a new student achievement center. Over the weekend, they were replanted near Lawlor Events Center.
Moving the 25-year-old trees was part of the campus' celebration of Arbor Day, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported Monday (http://on.rgj.com/1i7Mi9F ).
The project cost $3,000 and funded out of the library's demolition fund.
Trees are a distinguishing characteristic of the Reno campus and impressed Jose Villalobos, who recalled seeing them for the first time two years ago.
"It's an amazing thing to see a campus that's so green and beautiful," Villalobos, 22, a sophomore and biochemistry student, told the newspaper. "When I first got here, I just fell in love with this place. That's partially why I came here."
Oscar Arcos, 24, agreed.
"One thing I like about this school is that it's not a bunch of buildings," Arcos said. "We have a lot of green. Other schools don't have anything but brick and structures."
In all, 15 trees will be relocated on campus, said Marty Sillito, assistant director for UNR's Grounds Services.
"We're trying to become a certified Tree Campus USA location," Sillito said of the Arbor Day Foundation program recognizing colleges and universities that manage campus trees and engage students in conservation. "And to do that, we need to celebrate Arbor Day."
Replanting the trees on the grassy slope near the center was a daylong effort on Saturday but will help beautify the area, he said.
There were some unexpected setbacks.
"It was going pretty good, but we hit a water line that wasn't marked," said Robert Lopez, owner of Stay Green Tree Service in Carson City.
To further promote tree preservation, a tree sapling giveaway is set for Tuesday near the Joe Crowley Student Union, and a new paw paw tree will be planted Friday, which is Arbor Day.
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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com
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