Children from the YWCA Arlington Child Development Center welcomed the spring season with a gift of 10 trees earlier this month from the City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department.

The donation will bring greenery, birds and shade to the center's playground, which provides a holistic setting to lean, play, observe and discover more about the natural environment, said center director Linda Winkelman.

"It was an extremely generous gift," Winkelman said. "The 10 trees would just be outside the scope of our budget."

Most of the trees were planted in the Pre-K playground where there is no natural shade. Eventually, they will provide a natural canopy for the children and will be tangible things children at the center can touch, measure and learn from, Winkelman said.

"It's a built-in science lesson for the young children," she said.

The center received the gift through the Department of Parks and Recreation's LEAF program, which provides the public with trees at no cost, said Heather Dowell, urban forestry and land manager for Parks and Recreation.

The woody plants included red oak, bur oak, chinquapin oak and redbud trees, Dowell said.

"We only use native or adaptive trees so they have the best chance for survival," she said.

Dowell also said the plants are important in many ways and help children learn about nature.

"The kids are growing and their little minds are absorbing everything like sponges," she said. "Growing things help expand their imagination and what they learn on a daily basis. I think it's really important for children."

Trish Rodriguez, director of community relations at the center, said the playground provides a safe natural environment for children who may not have one at home.

"It's great to have time for creative play where they can just be kids," Rodriguez said.

The child center is a part of YWCA Fort Worth and Tarrant County, which aims to help low-income women and families with housing, family support and education.

Located at UT Arlington, the full service Arlington Child Development Center is open to the public and focuses on developing literacy skills for children 6 weeks of age to 5 years old.

For more information about the center and other YWCA programs, individuals may visit www.ywcafortworth.com.