|
|
|
Arbor Day 2009
May 8, 2009
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin welcomes Arbor Day volunteers.
The ceremonial first tree, planted by Mayor R.T. Rybak, Council Member Robert Lilligren, Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Council Member Gary Schiff, Carolyn Roby from Arbor Day sponsor Wells Fargo and Dave from Tree Trust.
Volunteers from Ryan Companies are hard at work..
A young volunteer carries a big bucket.
|
The day began with some of the best weather Mother Nature could offer: a perfect blue sky, temperatures in the mid 50s and warm sunshine. The Midtown Community Works Partnership’s 9th Annual Arbor Day tree planting event was a success due to over 100 dedicated volunteers. Many volunteers arrived by bike – enough to fill two large bike racks!
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin led the event kickoff, which included remarks from Wells Fargo’s Carolyn Roby, Tree Trust President Dave Hawes, Eric Hart of the Midtown Greenway Coalition and the Longfellow Community Council, Mayor R.T. Rybak, Council Members Robert Lilligren and Gary Schiff.
The Tree Trust staff provided instructions to the volunteers, teaching them how to loosen the roots and get the base of the tree to be level with the soil. The volunteers planted over 250 native trees and shrubs just east of Sabo bridge and south of the bike trail. This area is the second phase of a larger landscape plan begun during the Arbor Day 2008 planting, which focused on the area north of the bike trail. The "roundhouse" grove of trees centered on the trail was partially planted last year and completed this year to form the full circle.
Nine annual MCW Arbor Day events have now resulted in over 2,650 trees and shrubs along the Midtown Greenway. “This tree planting is adding another piece to the quilt of our green infrastructure,” said Jo Ann Musumeci, a Midtown Greenway Coalition board member and volunteer for Arbor Day.
Arbor Day is consistently supported by a longstanding, successful partnership between the public sector, community organizations, and corporate partners. Hennepin County provided essential technical support and funding through ongoing efforts in collaboration with Tree Trust. MnDOT, the owner of the site, contributed financial support through its Community Roadside Landscaping Partnership program.
Thanks to all of our Arbor Day funders: Hennepin County / Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority, Allina Health Systems / Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Wells Fargo and Target Foundation.
Successful Arbor Days would not be possible without terrific project partners: Midtown Greenway Coalition, Longfellow Community Council, Tree Trust, City of Minneapolis and The Green Institute.
The landscaping plan created by Gina Bonsignore.
(The section north of the trail was planted in 2008 and the section south of the trail was planted in 2009)
|
