Hobart resident inspires the planting of 17 new trees

The area of 12th Street and Lincoln Avenue in Hobart received some sprucing up over the weekend with the planting of 17 new trees.

The planting was initiated by a resident of the area, Jake Ceske, and led by members of the Student Conservation Association, who first demonstrated the proper way to plant then helped local volunteers place the trees, all of which are native to Indiana.

The trees and the planting were all free to the residents through the CommuniTree program that serves Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

According to Drew Hart, with the U.S. Forestry Service, the program was started five years ago with the intention of planting 25,000 native trees in the three counties by 2025. He said so far they’ve planted around 10,000 trees at various places including parks and residential neighborhoods.

Hart said the trees are purchased from Region nurseries with funds from the U.S. Forest Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and BP.

“The trees will add beauty to a neighborhood. They’ll often add 10% to a home’s property value along with the benefits of cleaner air, stormwater remediation and a habitat for wildlife,” Hart said.

Ceske said it’s his love for plants and desire to get rid of as much grass as possible that drove him to spearhead the tree planting.

“I love plants, that’s my life, especially native plants,” Ceske said. “I heard about the program and started thinking how many houses on my street could use a tree.”

He said six neighbors participated in the program and he was getting a new tree himself.

One neighbor, Carol Presdorf, received four trees — two Redbuds in front of her house and two oak trees on the side.

Presdorf said the trees are replacing some that were rotting and she had removed.

“Jake came with a list of trees. I said whatever looks good. I’m not picky,” Presdorf said.

Ryan Bennett, of Gary, is crew leader for the Calumet Tree Conservation Corp, which is part of the national Student Conservation Association. He said the group primarily plants trees in city and town parks, residential areas, at churches and schools and in some industrial areas. He said all the trees used are native to Indiana and are accustomed to the climate.

Before other student members and volunteers began planting the trees, Bennett provided a demonstration on the proper way to plant and care for a tree.

Hart said any neighborhood can apply for the donated trees by going to the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission website, nirpc.org, and filling out an application under CommuniTree, which is under the environment section.

He said they prefer to plant 15 to 20 trees at each outing.

ANDY LAVALLEY/POST-TRIBUNE PHOTOS Volunteer Lily Sharp, of Crown Point, cuts away the root covering as Alec Schassburger holds the tree during a planting event Saturday in Hobart.

Volunteers Karen Riley and Joseph Conn join with Drew Hart, of the U.S. Forest Service, in preparing to plant a tree in Hobart on Saturday. Seventeen native species trees were planted during the event.