Group asks for help to plant tree in park

A group of Montgomery Township residents has gotten the go-ahead to honor their late friend in a township park.

“I’m asking for your approval to have a beautiful, mature Magnolia tree panted, along with a bench, as a memorial to our beloved son, brother, and friend, Mr. James Riley — known to his friends as J.R. — Halek,” said Dominic Calafati.

Calafati and several friends told the township supervisors Monday night that they knew Halek, who lived with his family on Red Haven Drive just off of Stump Road, through working at the nearby Mystic Pizza restaurant and playing in the Orchards community — particularly the lo-

cal park, known in township records as “Whispering Pines” at 200 Orchard Drive.

“Through his teenage years, he worked right around the corner from his home, for the amazing family of Mystic Pizza restaurant, who considered him

a part of their family, and will be key providers in the funding for this project,” Calafati said.

“As longtime childhood friends, we grew up playing in the Orchards Park, creating unforgettable memories. Therefore, we think JR would want this park to be the ideal location for loved ones to come and remember him forever,” he said.

Halek will not be able to have a proper burial or

gravestone for friends and family to visit because of what Calafati called “unfortunate circumstances,” thus the proposal for a tree in the park.

“With this memorial, we will be able to visit and watch it blossom every April, around his birthday, which happens to be the exact time of year the Magnolia tree releases its gorgeous pink petals,” he said.

The group of friends

contacted a local nursery, which will install and help maintain the tree, and said they hope to raise enough money to cover the costs of the annual maintenance and avoid any cost to the township. They may also approach Lansdale borough officials for some sort of recognition in the borough’s planned skate park, since Halek was known for his inline skating ability, but wanted to focus on Montgomery

Township first since Halek lived there.

“With your approval, we would like to work with the township to choose an appropriate location, where it would not disrupt the park, but just be a beautiful addition to enjoy,” Calafati said.

“There would be nothing greater than to be able to present this beautiful tree and bench to his parents, as a tribute to their amazing son, and add to an already

wonderful park, for all residents of the Orchards to see blossom each and every year,” he said.

The group asked for approval from the township as soon as possible, so a tree could be planted as soon as possible before winter weather arrives.

The supervisors said they had no problem with the idea, but suggested it be vetted by the township Shade Tree Commission, too.

“Magnolias are always a favorite of (the Shade Tree Commission). If the board is in agreement, for the memorial to go through, we have a landscape architect on Shade Tree who would be better versed in figuring out exactly where would be most beneficial for the tree to be planted,” said Supervisor Michael Fox.

Fox then made a motion that the board approve the memorial project subject to the shade tree commission’s determining a proper location for the tree and bench, and the rest of the board unanimously approved it.

“Now you have your approval,” Fox said.

Montgomery Township’s Shade Tree commission next meets at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 and the supervisors next meet at 8 p.m. on Aug. 28, both at the township administration building, 1001 Stump Road.