Trees have long been central to Fairfield's history and community life. More than 100,000 trees grow on town parks, schoolyards, open space lands, and other public places such as Sherman Green, forming Fairfield's community forest, or urban forest. These public trees provide ecological benefits, raise property values, make shopping districts more appealing, and improve parks and other gathering places used for community events and relaxation. Fairfield acts as a steward of this community forest to sustain its environmental, economic, and cultural benefits for future generations. Sherman Green, managed by Fairfield's Parks and Recreation Commission, is named for Roger Minott Sherman, a prominent Fairfield citizen of the early 1800s. People of all ages, backgrounds, and interests use the green. Its gazebo was built entirely with volunteer labor and donated supplies and was dedicated for public use on June 2, 1985. A school was built on the site of the present-day gazebo in 1872, later named Sherman School, with an entrance framed by stately elms. In 1913, a new brick schoolhouse replaced the original Victorian-style building and served Fairfield children until Sherman School was relocated from the site in 1963.