Neighborwoods, our fall community tree planting in partnership with the Mayor’s Greening Initiative, took place on the weekend of September 29th and 30th. Within these two days, we reached our goal of planting 200 trees in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood, totaling 400+ trees planted and 50+ trees given to residents in this neighborhood in 2023!
Roosevelt Park Neighborhood has historically had fewer trees planted and taken care of than others, and we’ve been on a mission to help change this. During ArborFest, our spring community tree planting, we planted 201 trees in this neighborhood. With the help of our Green Team, we watered and cared for them throughout the drought in the spring and hot summer. Before our community tree plantings, our certified arborists carefully plan where new trees are planted, flyer within the community, and drop off the trees at their new sites.
At Neighborwoods, 200+ volunteers joined us in hot summer-like weather and worked with difficult soil conditions, pushing through to make sure these new trees were in the ground to create shade in years to come.
Photo credit: Tiffany Fant of Grand Rapids Film and Media Incubator
We request nominations for an outstanding community member to plant a tree in their honor each year. This year, we planted a memorial Regal Prince Oak tree for Zeke Ramirez in Caulfield Park. Zeke was named Mayor of Grandville Avenue and nominated by the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association to have this tree planted. Zeke’s family was present to tell stories and fond memories about Zeke and helped us celebrate his impact in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood.
Photo credit: Tiffany Fant of Grand Rapids Film and Media Incubator
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Neighborwoods a huge success and helped kick off our fall planting season!
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
BARTLETT
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ROCKFORD CONSTRUCTION
AHC + HOSPITALITY
MEIJER
TOWER PINKSTER
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CLIMATE JUSTICE TEAM
VARNUM LLP
REHMANN
