The nation’s third largest railway will transform an asphalt playground at the Albert M. Greenfield School into a safe and green space.

The collaboration between CSX and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will serve as the official launch of the railway’s “Trees for Tracks” program that promises to plant 21,000 trees, or one tree for each mile of CSX track, in the next five years. Other partners include City Year, the national youth service initiative and Alliance for Community Trees, a national organization dedicated to helping cities restore their forest canopy, a third of which has been destroyed in recent decades.

The Greenfield School’s new green space at 22nd and Chestnut Streets will include twenty-six very large trees, being donated and planted by CSX. The end result of all the greening efforts will be a living classroom for more than 500 students that will provide an immediate connection to the environment and enhance the school’s science program. According to Tori Kaplan, Director of Corporate Citizenship for CSX, it’s the type of project communities can expect from CSX and “Trees for Tracks.”

“CSX is committed to making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and do business,” said Kaplan. “Not only does planting trees improve air quality and offset carbon emissions, but trees act as noise buffers, improve wildlife habitats and add beauty to our communities. And, in this case, we have an opportunity to bring green trees into a Center City Philadelphia school to help children learn more about how to improve and sustain our environment.”

Additional CSX “Trees for Tracks” planting days will take place over the next several months in Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami and other cities. For additional information or to sign up as a volunteer, please visit http://www.keeponliving.org/green/trees-for-tracks/.