Kivi Park is inviting the community to take part in a tree planting event on May 13 thanks to a donation of 10,000 seedlings from Vale’s Sudbury operations and A & M Reforestation.
“Vale is pleased to support Kivi Park’s mission to create a truly remarkable destination park for residents and tourists alike,” said Stuart Harshaw, vice-president of Vale’s Ontario operations, in a news release. “The thousands of seedlings we are donating have been grown with care as part of our ongoing re-greening efforts in Sudbury and we invite residents of all ages to come out and be part of this historic event.”
Park benefactor Lily Fielding is excited to see a new generation of residents participate in environmental stewardship.
“Not too long ago, our children played on the black rock and moonscape of Sudbury,” Fielding is quoted as saying in the release. “They were part of a generation that reclaimed and restored our natural environment. People from all over the city helped out and, thanks to these projects, our landscape transformed into something extraordinary.”
Scouts Canada, Girl Guides Canada, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Forests Ontario, CAA North & East Ontario, Pioneer Construction and Fisher Wavy are supporting the program.
Local members of Scouts Canada troupes have been planting trees in Sudbury since the mid 1970s. The initiative is part of Scoutrees, a long-standing flagship community service program.
“Over the past 40 years our commitment has complimented the re-greening efforts of Sudbury,” said Sudbury Scout Leader Earl Mumford. “Since 1972, Scouts of all ages have planted more than 80 million trees across Canada. That’s an incredible statistic, one that few organizations can be proud to claim.”
Recognized for his environmental work in Sudbury and as founding director of Science North and co-director of Laurentian University’s Science Communication Program, Dr. David Pearson said the planting is a "wonderful" tribute to the Fielding family and the history of hte property.
“I remember seeing an old photograph with beech trees in it, taken at the end of Kelly Lake, near Cliff and Lily Fielding's home,” recalled Pearson. “I think it would be a wonderful and distinctive tribute to the Fielding family if the tradition of planting trees in Kivi Park could try to bring back some of the trees we rarely see in Sudbury now, like beech and black walnut.”
Residents and community groups are invited to plant a seedling, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on May 13 at Kivi Park.
The day will also feature a barbecue lunch, music, face painting, bouncy castles and other activities for kids.
Greater Sudbury Fire Services will be on hand with their service vehicles.
Volunteers are still needed. Contact Melissa Sheridan, Kivi Park Leader, at 705-665-4865 or email [email protected].
