Hello - I'm contacting OSU Extension on behalf of Trust for Public Land and Slavic Village Development in need of some direction and educational resources for our upcoming fall tree planting pilot. TPL/SVD are in the predevelopment stages of a community led project with stakeholders in the Slavic Village neighborhood. Using funding sourced from the Cleveland Tree Coalition, we are attempting to pilot a Phytoremediation case study on a 1-acre tract of land located in SVD service area. The intent of the pilot is to determine the potential for realizing soil contaminant reductions on vacant lots in Slavic Village. Using Poplar trees (+ other related groundcover) as a nature based solution, our goal is to realize reductions of Lead and other heavy metals concentrations in parcels with known history of contamination and/or high rates of heavy metal toxicity. We've refined our scope with input from Davey Tree, and we are proposing planting approximately 40 poplar trees (5m x 5m spacing). In order to conduct valid scientific approach, we will incorporate both a test area for planting and a control area where no trees will be planted within the one acre tract. Our hypothesis is that by using poplar trees we can slowly detoxify lead and other heavy metals in the soil across a 10-year period. As reductions occur year over year, we will work concurrently with the resident community to engage in discussions around long-term site planning and future greenspace on the space is safe for occupancy. Much of our scope has been adopted based on sample evidence gleaned from the Delray – Detroit, MI case study. Delray Neighborhood Plan - PHYTO We are working with City of Cleveland’s brownfield office to source the appropriate site; however, we’ve been asked to provide additional details on our soil sampling and testing procedures. Our initial scope included initial soil sampling, vetted by local OSU extension lab, with additional testing to occur once/year. Since we are working with volunteers, there is some concern about exposures to risk that we are hoping to avoid - especially with our soil collection process. Can you advise on soil testing procedures and recommendations we should incorporate? Also curious to know if there are any material resources and educational materials on Poplar trees and Phytoremediation that we can incorporate in our workshops. Any guidance on this would be greatly appreciated. Happy to coordinate a time with our community partners (Slavic Village Green Team) if a broader discussion is warranted. Many thanks, Sean Terry, Trust for Public Land