The green roof planted on Manchester City Hall's roof was officially recognized last Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city officials, contributors and partnering organizations.

UNH Cooperative Extension conceived the idea for the demonstration project and began recruiting partners from the Manchester community in 2002. The essential project components, an appropriate site, city approval, and funding, finally came together last May, enabling us to us to move forward and get the roof in place.

I participated in the event, noting our longtime involvement with the people of Manchester. In the past 12 years alone, our staff has become increasingly active here in the urban heart of New Hampshire. Much of our work has centered around organizing grassroots coalitions that have brought together local residents, Extension staff and volunteers, various city departments, nonprofit organizations, and the business community to improve the beauty, livability, safety, natural resources and social integration of Manchester's low-income neighborhoods. The new green roof is but one such example of these collaborative efforts.

Stepping in for Mayor Frank Guinta to open the ceremony was City Clerk Leo Bernier, who talked about the large coalition of public, private and non-profit agencies and volunteers that came together to develop the green roof without spending any tax dollars. Phil Bryce, State Forester, NH Division of Forests and Lands, talked about the important role of natural resources and our urban forests and how green roofs contribute to both. Mayor Guinta was later on hand to view the new sign in front of Manchester's City Hall that provides information about the new green roof and to comment on its importance to the city.

UNH Cooperative Extension's Community Forestry Educator, Mary Tebo, was the driving force behind this effort. She thanked the funders and partnering organizations as well, and noted that there will be another green roof growing in Manchester next summer. Congratulations, Mary!

(Shown in the above photo are State Forester Phil Bryce, Extension Educator Mary Tebo, Mayor Frank Guinta and Dean John Pike. )