Download Ohio Expo Center Unveils New Green Gateway to the

For Immediate Release
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Edit Ruano, Full Court Press Communications
O: 510-550-8176; C: 530-305-9427
OHIO EXPO CENTER UNVEILS NEW GREEN GATEWAY TO THE 2013 OHIO STATE FAIR WITH BIG,
MATURE TREES AND WALKABLE PROMENADE
DeepRoot’s Silva Cell Used By the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to Create Visually Appealing,
Environmentally Friendly Experience for Ohio State Fair Visitors
San Francisco, CA – Visitors to this year’s Ohio State Fair will have a new green and shaded gateway to
usher them into the fairgrounds. Thanks to the Silva Cell, an innovative landscaping product developed
by DeepRoot, there are now nine large trees of various species planted at the entrance the Ohio Expo
Center. The Silva Cell creates an underground framework that provides soil access and stormwater
management so the trees can grow healthy even when surrounded by paving. The Cardinal Corridor
Project was launched after Ohio State Governor John Kasich expressed a desire to create a greener,
more welcoming and park-like experience for fair visitors.
“The Ohio State Fair engaged us after Governor Kasich
and his wife asked for an innovative solution to improve
the Ohio Expo Center, which previously had no trees at
the front entrance,” stated Graham Ray, CEO of
DeepRoot. “With the recently installed 920 Silva Cell
frames, we have helped create a healthy green space
full of big, lush trees and even provided a stormwater
management solution to help keep the site healthy in
the coming years.”
The Ohio Expo Center occupies more than 360 acres in
Columbus, Ohio and hosts over 150 events per year.
Prior to the installation, the entry to the Center was
dominated by asphalt. Silva Cells allowed for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and its
partners to install nine large trees and build a beautiful promenade for pedestrians. The use of Silva Cells
also allowed them to maintain the same number of available parking spaces.
“Given the social and economic importance of the Ohio Expo Center, we wanted to invest in the right
type of green infrastructure,” stated Andrew Ware, deputy Director of the ODNR. “This was a team
effort to keep our local watershed healthy, to make a beautiful space for fair visitors and to save money
in the long term by improving the way we manage our stormwater.”
Without the Silva Cell, it would not have been possible to install the mature trees and to give each of
them the 1,000 cubic feet of soil they need. The Center has a large volume of pedestrian and car traffic
that would not allow for open planters. The use of Silva Cells has allowed for big trees to reach maturity
in an area that originally seemed impossible.
In addition to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, DeepRoot collaborated with the Ohio
Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Expositions Committee, and the Ohio
Department of Transportation.
“As a result of this installation, two million annual Ohio
Expo Center visitors will have an improved
experience,” added Ray. “It’s gratifying to know that
we are playing a role in creating a beautiful space for
Ohio State Fair guests.”
As the trees in Ohio continue to grow, they will offer
flow control benefits by capturing water with their
canopies, evaporation from tree leaves, and providing
enhanced infiltration. Additionally, the entire installed
system is now capable of holding up to 20,000 gallons
of water that seep in through the pavers and therefore
do not pollute nearby streams and creeks.
The Silva Cell, which was also recently recognized as a stormwater and bioretention management
solution by Washington state, has long been used by contractors on project sites where there is a desire
to plant and maintain healthy trees even if surrounded by concrete and asphalt.
Moving forward, there are plans to plant additional trees at the Ohio Expo Center, including using more
Silva Cells to create tree clusters at pedestrian gathering spaces and transportation nodes. In this way,
the Ohio Expo Center will continue creating an exciting, comfortable experience for the thousands of
families that annually flock to the fair.
To view a fact sheet about the Cardinal Corridor Project, please visit: HOLD FOR LINK
To learn more about the Silva Cell, please visit: http://bit.ly/silvacell
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About DeepRoot: For nearly 40 years, DeepRoot has helped cities, contractors and communities find
solutions that help them build the livable cities that they desire. Our mission is to create a more livable
built environment by using green infrastructure like trees, soil, and on-site stormwater management.
With locations in the U.S., Canada and the UK, we are expanding solutions to enhance urban landscapes
in city streets, parking lots, campuses, and other heavily-paved areas. www.deeproot.com