Local Key Club volunteers find buried treasure from the 1980’s while planting trees at Simms Park.
By Tammye McDuff
The City of Bellflower had over 200 community volunteers join together with Cal State Long Beach, UC Master Gardeners, Girls Scouts and local high schools donating their time and muscles to beautify Simms Park and Caruthers Park.
The idea is to help reduce the carbon emissions in order to make the community a healthier environment to live in.
The planting was part of neighborhood events held in conjunction with Make a Difference Day, a national day of community service.
The benefits of trees may be obvious to some, but their direct effect on reducing a heat island effect, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy, cleaning water and air, providing aesthetic and habitat value, and improving public health is astounding.
Cindy Van Meeveren, Recreation Coordinator for Bellflower commented, “I think this was an awesome opportunity for residents to be part of the beautification of our City. It allows our children to have a sense of ownership.” There was one group of Kiwanis Kids that named their tree The Giving Tree, so that they could come back year after year to see how it gives back to the environment.
Funding for this project comes from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection [CalFire].”I enjoy events like this, surrounded by volunteers and the community, collaborating together in making a difference for the environment,” says Bellflower Mayor Dan Koops, “Today’s efforts will create a better tomorrow for the next generation of Bellflower residents. On behalf of the City Council, I commend the efforts of local volunteers and residents participating in CIRCLE program.”
