Earth Day Street Tree Planting Planned, April 22nd

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Last year's tree planting with Berkshire Bank on Rochelle Street.


Last year’s tree planting with Berkshire Bank on Rochelle Street.

Thanks to the generous support of the Berkshire Bank Foundation, Regreen Springfield and American International College, along with Berkshire Bank employees will plant 45 new street trees in Springfield on Earth Day, April 22nd.  The tree planting will take place on Albemarle Street, in the Mason Square Neighborhood.  This marks the second year in a row that the Berkshire Bank Foundation has funded a tree planting in the neighborhood.

This year’s planting event coincides with Earth Day, which is a celebration of the environment, and is commemorated with sustainability based initiatives around the country. Students from AIC will join Berkshire Bank staff, the Student Conservation Association, Regreen Springfield volunteers and neighborhood residents in planting the large shade trees along Albemarle Street.

Please Note: If you are interested in participating, please send an email to info@regreenspringfield.org and just provide your name and email address.  Volunteers will meet at AIC on Wilbraham Road, just opposite Albemarle Street, at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, April 22nd.  Please park on nearby streets, since parking on campus is unavailable on the day of the planting.  Please wear comfortable clothing, and boots if possible. Work should be completed about Noon.  Lunch will be provided.

So, please consider helping out a bit on Earth Day, and help to Regreen Springfield… one tree at a time.

 

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Cathedral High Students Join Regreen at Quarry Pond

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Cathedral students pose at Quarry Pond in Springfield's Sixteen Acres neighborhood on November 25, 2014.

Cathedral High School students pose at Quarry Pond in Springfield’s Sixteen Acres neighborhood on November 25, 2014.

On, Tuesday, November 25th, 29 student volunteers from Cathedral High School joined Regreen Springfield and the City of Springfield Parks Department in removing invasive and non-desirable vegetation at Quarry Pond, at Camp Wilder in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood of the city. This effort was aimed at providing trees and shrubs, that were planted around the pond following the June 2011 tornado, a chance to mature with less competition from non-native plants and other invasive vegetation.

The students completed the work as part of Cathedral High School’s commitment to community service, and this project included participation by students from the National Honor Society and several sports teams.  The work was completed in cooperation with the Springfield Conservation Commission, who provided technical assistance to the work of the day.  Additionally, staff from the City’s Forestry Division provided staff assistance and tools to help complete the work.  Volunteers from Regreen Springfield also participated in the effort.

Students work to remove invasive vegetation at Quarry Pond on November 25, 2014.


Students work to remove invasive vegetation at Quarry Pond on November 25, 2014.

A neighborhood-based day of community service at the Pond is planned for the spring, and the students from Cathedral are expected to spend another day working at Quarry Pond in April 2015.

Quarry Pond is located at the new Camp Wilder Recreation Area that was built adjacent to the Pond following the tornado, and it contains parking areas, a gazebo and picnic tables.  Nearly 1,000 seedlings and small trees were planted in the tornado damage area surrounding the Pond, as well as nearly 50 large shade trees.  The work that was completed is expected to aid in the establishment of native vegetation on the site, which will ultimately make the area more sustainable as a natural landscape.

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Springfield police recruits plant trees in city park in gang-plagued Bay Neighborhood

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police recruitsWith a determination to give back to the city they intend to protect and serve upon graduation from the academy, a group of Springfield police recruits spent time on Saturday, October 11th cleaning and planting trees at two local parks.  As the rain fell steadily around 9 a.m., the group stayed busy by digging holes to house the heavy root balls of new trees that are intended to beautify Hennessy Park in the city’s Bay Neighborhood.

“We’re planting a mix of shade trees and ornamental trees, and the recruits are cleaning up the overgrown brush along the exterior fence of the park,” said Ed Casey, the City of Springfield’s forester. “I’ve worked with a lot of volunteer groups over the years, but these guys have been great. I think it’s great they are out here spending time in the neighborhoods before they start on the force.”

The group of recruits reached out to Regreen Springfield for its community service project, which they must complete ahead of graduation, which is scheduled to take place on October 30th. police recruits 2 The recruits also cleaned up brush at the park and proceeded to Adams Playground on Wilbraham Road to clean up the area and re-paint pieces of playground equipment.

“We needed to do a community service project for the academy,” Police Academy recruit Andrew Normand said. “So what better way to leave your mark than plant trees in the park today.” Normand, who had previously volunteered with ReGreen Springfield , said each class at the Police Academy is required by curriculum to work on a community service project.

To view a gallery of photos from the event, visit http://regreenspringfield.com/gallery/springfield-police-academy-day-of-service/

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