Eagles Partner With DCNR to Craft Newest Go Green Initiative, The Eagles Forest

November 2, 2007

Contact:
Shawn Casey, Philadephia Eagles, 215.320.5182
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809

Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Eagles have partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to further their GO GREEN initiative. On Friday, November 2, 2007 Eagles owner Christina Lurie and DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis unveiled plans to create an Eagles Forest at Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem, PA.

The Eagles Forest, planned for a 6.5-acre grass site, will serve as access to the Delaware riverfront and walking trails in Neshaminy State Park. The park covers 330 acres and hosts both active and passive recreation amenities including: a slip marina on the Delaware River, hiking trails, numerous picnic facilities, boat launching ramps and a pool. Each year, Neshaminy State Park accommodates approximately 250,000 visitors. Both DCNR and the Philadelphia Eagles are excited about the Eagles Forest becoming an integral part of Neshaminy State Park.

The Eagles are hoping to influence other teams and organizations, as well as fans, to ‘go green’ with the new initiatives. “Major sports teams have an impact on the environment, especially on game days,” says Christina Lurie. “We strive to be a responsible company, both in terms of the community and the environment. We want to set a positive environmental example for the league, the city and our fans. We are excited to partner with DCNR and hope that together we can make a positive impact on our planet.”

The Eagles Forest will provide fans the opportunity to join the team in the GO GREEN effort by allowing them to purchase trees through philadelphiaeagles.com to be planted in the forest. The team will plant trees to offset carbon emissions from away-game air travel as part of The Conservation Fund’s GO ZERO program, which compliments the team’s GO GREEN campaign.

The Eagles worked with the nonprofit Conservation Fund to calculate and then “zero out” the carbon emissions associated with team travel for the 2007 season. This year alone, the Eagles will emit approximately 327 tons of CO2, traveling more than 9,000 miles by plane. In order to neutralize the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere through away-game air travel, the Eagles will plant 850 trees in the Eagles Forest.

“Climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time,” said The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero director, Jena Thompson. “The Fund applauds the Philadelphia Eagles for its Go Green initiative, which serves as a model for the industry to address this challenge. Thanks to the support of the Eagles and the leadership of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leave a lasting legacy for current and future generations.”

“The ‘Eagles Forest’ will not only improve the appearance of the park, but also will provide a new and unique environmental education feature that will compliment recreational facilities and the park’s tidal marsh area,” DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. “These trees will help us manage storm-water runoff from the park to the Delaware River, and give visitors the opportunity to learn about the benefits of trees through hands-on planting and interpretive signage.”

DiBerardinis noted the tree plantings also support the TreeVitalize effort to plant more than 20,000 trees to help restore tree cover in southeastern Pennsylvania. DCNR spearheads the TreeVitalize project with many public and private partners.

Overall, the current plans include the Eagles funding the planting of about 4,000 trees and shrubs in the Eagles Forest. Approximately 30 trees and 30 shrubs have already been planted in the forest area, including: Redbud, Red Oak, Willow Oak, Sugar Maple, Black Gum and Sycamore. All trees and shrubs will be indigenous to the region.

For more information about purchasing a tree to be planted in the Eagles Forest, please visit www.philadelphiaeagles.com.

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