Hello kind people at the Extension Service! I am a parent volunteer designing a playground for a charter school, and we have a donor giving us funds to develop our landscape. We have some tree choices to make, and one in particular that I wanted to ask about. My plan is to plant about 9 trees along the base of the slope to help uptake the excess water in winter that creates muddiness in the playground, as well as provide light shade for the slope. The trees need to do well despite neglect, as the school is maintained by volunteers that rotate out as their kids graduate. The trees will have wet feet in winter, and neglect in summer (I will be out there to water during the next 2 summers though). I was thinking that the Oregon Ash (fraxinus latifolia) would be a great choice for the bottom of a south facing slope. In the winter, the soils are quite wet, and in the summer, it is hot and dry. Oregon Ash seems to grow anywhere! However, it's not the prettiest tree. In the plant descriptions, Autumn Purple Ash (fraxinus americana 'Autumn Purple') needs well-draining soils. I'd love to plant this tree for an autumn "tree moment" for the kids, but if the trees won't thrive, then it would be a waste of money. Could Autumn Purple do okay? Maybe if planted slightly higher on the slope? Would that provide enough winter drainage, or just be wet on a slope? The attached photos are of the site. The trees would go along the bottom of the slope between the buildings and the playground, which is flat at the bottom. The buildings are N of the playground, making the slope south facing. Do you have any other suggestions for trees that would do well in clay soils, with wet feet in winter, dry South-facing full sun in summer, are non-toxic, easy to maintain, grow quickly, and have no thorns. Maybe a poplar? An Alder? Oregon Ash seems to fit the bill, but seeing it growing in ditches doesn't make it an exciting tree for the people at the school, even though in my opinion it does give nice shade. Thank so much for any advice or suggestions.