Date: 10/27/2008

Proving it's never too early to go green, the Associated Students of San José State's Child Development Center will cut the ribbon on its new natural playspace at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 30. The event is free and open to all SJSU students and employees. For more information, contact Dameyon Ford at 408-924-6988.

Here's how Frances Roth, the center's director, describes the playspace: "The purpose of the new playspace is to expose these city kids to nature, to use native materials and to make a time for them to get back to the soil. The area has a large lawn, bordered by a tricycle path which leads to a redwood play house. There is a redwood arbor over a portion of the path with a passion vine growing over it.

We also want children to know where some of their food comes from and encourage healthy eating habits. For that, we have three large planter boxes for growing vegetables that the children can grow and then cook and eat. There are also three fruit trees: an apple, an orange and a pear.

Flowers planted in a bed near the lawn are those that attract butterflies, making it a 'butterfly garden' so we hope to see those at the right time of year. Lastly, in the far corner is a tire swing that will invite children to swing, spin and cooperate as three or four children can participate at the same time."

Read more on the AS Child Development Center.

Read more on the ribbon cutting ceremony.