PRESS RELEASE: 600 PLUS GYM SPA RECOGNIZED AS EDINBURG'S FIRST VALLE VERDE COMMERCIAL WILDSCAPE
March 3, 2008
600 Plus Gym Spa, one of Edinburg's newest and chic health clubs, may be helping its members get lean and mean inside the gym, but outside the gym it's all about keeping the environment clean and green. 600 Plus Gym Spa, located at 2202 Cornerstone Blvd. in Edinburg, was recently recognized by Edinburg's Environment Advisory Board as the first local business to be certified as a Valle Verde Commercial Wildscape.
Launched in fall of 2006, Edinburg's Valle Verde Program encourages home and business owners to use native trees, shrubs and plants in the landscape, and promotes the use of mulch, compost, drip-irrigation and other landscape conservation measures which conserve water and save money. A native plant landscape offers both economic and aesthetic benefits such as lower initial installation costs, more rapid plant maturity, lower watering and maintenance costs, more flowering plants and colorful foliage, and provides habitat for birds and butterflies. 600 Plus Gym Spa's landscape was designed and installed by Allen Williams, owner of Williams Wildscapes of Pharr, Tx. According to the gym's Architect, J. Tom Ashley III, FAIA of Ashley Humphries & Sanchez Architects-McAllen, "the Rio Grande Valley's unique environment creates an opportunity to physically reinforce the combined benefits of good weather together with bird and butterfly migration patterns."
To achieve Edinburg Valle Verde Wildscape Certification a residential or commercial property must provide the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young. The Valle Verde Program recognizes both the Texas Parks and Wildlife Wildscapes Certification and the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Habitat Certification, both of which were also received by 600 Plus Gym Spa. Mark Peña, a member of Edinburg's Environment Advisory Board, said "the Board is very proud of what 600 Plus Gym Spa has created and achieved with its landscape. It's a wonderful model for the community, and we encourage other business owners to do the same by creating landscapes that are beautiful, economical, wildlife and environmentally friendly and which ultimately improve the quality of life in Edinburg."
If you are interested in obtaining Valle Verde Certification for your home or business, please contact Mark Peña at 383-4951 or email at mark.pena@edwards-titleco.com. For more information on Texas Parks and Wildlife Wildscapes Certification go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us.