A group of environmentally focused students from Corona del Sol High School have planted themselves firmly alongside the National Football League and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee to bring more shade to the school’s South Tempe campus.
The teens joined Mayor Corey Woods, TUHSD Superintendent Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil and community volunteers to plant16
drought tolerant trees in various spots in selected locations. According to planners, the concept was originated to help provide beauty, shade and cooling, and help to increase the tree canopy in Tempe.
The project was said to be one of nearly a dozen community greening projects being implemented in the months leading up to Super Bowl LVII. Each year NFL Green works with local organizations to create a positive green legacy around the game by planting trees, building community gardens and restoring habitat, a spokesperson said.
As to how the initiative got started, NFL incorporated environmental projects into the management of tentpole events nearly 30 years ago.
Officials said it represents the NFL’s sustainability program, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of events and leave a positive “green” legacy in host communities. Other projects include food recovery and distribution, recycling and solid waste management, recovery and donation of event and building materials, community greening and reforestation projects, the use of “green energy” to power events and Super Kids-Super Sharing, a community initiative to help support local youth.
Super Bowl LVII will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Feb. 12, 2023.
This marks the fourth Super Bowl played in metro Phoenix since 1996 — the year Super Bowl XXX took place at Sun Devil Stadium — and the third to take place at this venue, following Super Bowl XLII in 2008 and Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.