All three hours will feed on Thursday, May 11, from 16:30-19:29 in stereo on Channel A68.1 (Program ID # 06-000-98424).

Hour 1:

The Public Green and the Poor produced by Richard Paul Numerous times in American history, reformers have sought to help the poor by putting them amidst nature -- believing that physical beauty can make beautiful people. It seems like an odd idea. But Thomas Jefferson believed it fervently. And it's also the reason Central Park exists in New York and the town of Greenbelt exists in Maryland. This program, from Producer Richard Paul, looks at a time in our past when nature was used to uplift the poor. Watershed 263 produced by Katie Gott In urban areas across the country, trees and grass have been replaced with pavement and concrete. Storm water runoff from these paved surfaces in cities can be saturated with harmful substances such as gasoline, oil and trash. We head to the inner city of Baltimore where partners have joined forces to clean up the runoff flowing into the harbor and into the Chesapeake Bay, and at the same time to improve the quality of life for the residents living there. For stations who want to broadcast the program click here

Hour 2:

Code Green produced by Gemma Hooley Code Green explores the impact that hurricanes have on urban green cover, from integrating trees and wetlands into a city's infrastructure and disaster plan, to post-hurricane damage assessment of city trees and coastal marshes, to recovery and rebuilding. Hear from scientists, city planners and urban foresters about their work to establish, protect and restore the green infrastructure in the wake of catastrophic hurricanes, in coastal cities from Charleston to New Orleans. Cities of the Plain produced by Bill Drummond Urban forests in desert settings -- no, this is not about transferring Central Park to L.A. Arid environments have their own "green" cover, and cities destroy and ignore that vegetation to their peril. Veteran producer Bill Drummond travels out West from mountains to shore to ask: when are trees beneficial and when are they not? His search helps us understand how urban policies are shaping the U.S. and global ecosystem. For stations who want to broadcast the program click here

Hour 3:

The Urban Forest Healing Center produced by Jean Snedegar From the time he wrote 'Walden -- Life in the Woods' philosopher Henry David Thoreau understood the restorative value of trees to the human soul. More than 100 years later researchers are discovering why. Even in the most deprived inner city, trees and green space around buildings reduce crime and violence as well as promote a sense of community and well-being. Producer Jean Snedegar explores how Chicago is capitalizing on this research to change the pace of city life. Every Tree Tells a Story produced by Judith Kampfner Urban forests provide economic, social and cultural value to neighborhoods and cities. But what are the needs and expectations different ethnic and racial groups have for green space? And how does understanding those needs draw tighter communities? Producer Judith Kampfner compares the cities of New York and London, and the approach new and old ethnic racial and immigrant groups have towards green space. For stations who want to broadcast the program click here

For broadcast of the entire series, please visit http://prx.org/pieces/5280