Oroville – The Oroville Botanical Gardens, Education Center, Feather River Recreation, and Park District are looking for volunteers to plant trees in Riverbend Park Jan. 29.
“We will take all the volunteers we can get. I would love it if at least 50 volunteers attended,” said Susan Sims, head of the Botanic Gardens.
Prior to tree planting day, Sims, an International Arborist Association certified arborist, will teach an arboretum class to citizens at Dunstone Memorial Hall, 4790 Foothill Blvd. From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. January 22nd. You will have the opportunity to complete the free class to be the Tree Planting Team Leader in the January 29 event.
“Anyone interested in becoming a cheerleader can come to class. They don’t have to volunteer on the 29th, but we certainly would like to,” Sims said.
The plan for January 29 is to plant 105 trees including 25 California sycamore, 23 valley oak, 25 Chinese pistachio, 13 Lombardy and 11 indoor live oak, October 5 glory maple and two large maple trees throughout the 210-acre Riverbend Park.
“It really is a great project for the community to get involved in beautifying our local parks,” said Victoria Anton FRRPD CEO.
Tree planting takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 29. The volunteers will meet in Riverbend Park, where they will be provided with tools to plant trees. No advanced registration is required. Water and T-shirts will be provided. Volunteers must bring their own gloves and snacks.
“There are a lot of trees to plant, but I think we can do it,” Anton said.
The project is funded by a grant from the California ReLeaf Social Equity Urban Forest Grant Program. Oroville Botanical Gardens received a California ReLeaf grant of up to $100,000 in November 2021 for the purpose of planting trees throughout the greater Oroville area.
“That’s enough funding for about 300 trees,” Sims said. “Planting trees is good for the environment and for mental health. Studies show that in addition to sequestering carbon and providing oxygen, the beauty of trees also brings a sense of peace and happiness to people.”
To date, the Botanic Gardens have planted 112 trees in the community at Oroville VFW Hall, Dunstone Memorial Hall, Southside Community Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Park, African American Family and Cultural Center community and Poplar Avenue School in Thermalito. There are plans to plant more trees at other schools in the Thermalito Union School District.
Planting sites and tree species to be planted in Riverbend Park were determined by plans provided by FRRPD by Melton Design Group, Chico Landscape Architects.
“The tree plan was in place but it had been set for some time to come. When we got the grant and we were looking for places to put trees (FRRPD) we already had plans and a tree wish list in place. This made it easy for us and this – tree planting funded through The scholarship – it will save them a lot of money,” Sims said.