Tree-planting program helps low-income residents
150 DONORS BEING SOUGHT
The City of Lethbridge is offering local residents an opportunity to leave their mark on Watermark Park and help low-income residents access local recreational and cultural programs.
The City marked Arbor Day on Friday by kicking off their Canada 150 Forest program starting in Watermark Park on the city’s westside.
The project will provide an opportunity for the first 150 families or individuals to sponsor the planting of a tree for $150. The 150 donors will be commemorated on a plaque featuring their names.
Money raised will go toward the city’s Recreation and Culture Fee Assistance Program, which helps local residents access different programs in the city.
“We’re going to place a monument in this park naming all 150 donors,” said Abby Slovack, Land Development Manager with the City of Lethbridge.
Mayor Chris Spearman said Arbor Day, which is a day dedicated to the planting of trees, was a perfect day to open a program dedicated to the planting of trees.
He handed over a personal cheque to purchase the first tree himself.
“You have to be a leader in the community,” he said. “You have to demonstrate that they’re not for everybody else. They are for all of us. So I’m happy to participate.”
The event was also attended by Mich Forster, Lethbridge School District No. 51 Board Chair, and a number of students from Dr. Probe Elementary School.
“As students you are going to have an opportunity to watch your tree grow,” he said. “Probably 30 years from now, you will see a huge tree standing on this spot. And that’s pretty special.”
“We’re so excited (Mayor Spearman) could be here, as well as representatives from the school district in order to kick off this great program,” Slovack said.
“We felt it was really important to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. It’s great to have 150 trees in our park. We love to plant lots of trees, it’s what makes our community so great and so special. And we thought it would be great if we could do something to contribute to the recreational opportunities for those families who struggle to do it.”
Watermark Park is located adjacent to the West Lethbridge Middle School currently under construction. Both the school and the park are scheduled to open in 2018.
“Here in Lethbridge, we have more maintained park space per capita than any other city in Canada,” Spearman said. “Having the parks and the quality of parks we do in the city adds to the quality of life and the attractiveness of living in Lethbridge.”