Community forestry organization to host fundraising event

Springfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/06/2015 -- Regreen Springfield will celebrate the Spring season and acknowledge the work of the organization's community volunteers and partners, who have helped to regreen the city… one tree at a time, by holding a "May ReGreen Springfield Fundraising Gala". The event will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at the Barney Carriage House in Springfield's Forest Park, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. The Gala is planned to help fund the Regreen Springfield's Summer Youth Intern Program and its 2015 Tree Planting initiatives.

A cash bar, food and a short program will be part of the evening's menu. Local media personality Scott Coen will be our emcee for the event, and an ensemble from the Community Music School will provide the entertainment. A suggested tax-deductible donation of $25 per person is requested. Please RSVP by May 15th by visiting www.regreenspringfield.org/gala

About Regreen Springfield
Regreen Springfield is a charity recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3). Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Recovery from devastating effects of 2011 tornado continues in Sixteen Acres neighborhood.

Springfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2014 -- On Tuesday, January 25th, students from Cathedral High School will join Regreen Springfield and the City of Springfield Parks Department in restoring native vegetation to the woodlands around Quarry Pond in Sixteen Acres, which was heavily impacted by the June 2011 tornado. New trees were planted by community volunteers, and the City, following the storm event, but undesirable vegetation now threatens to overtake the new trees and shrubs that were planted.

During this work, which will take place between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, students will remove undesirable vegetation and clear areas around the new trees that were planted following the tornado, and are now beginning to mature on the site. Working with staff from the Springfield Conservation Commission and the Parks Department, the students will provide services that otherwise would not be affordable, since FEMA reimbursement does not cover maintenance of new tree plantings. Nearly 800 trees and shrubs were planted at the site in the restoration effort, and this work day is intended to enhance the likelihood of these trees surviving and reaching full maturity.

According to Ed Casey, Springfield City Forester, "This community service project is so special since it provides the students with a chance to better understand our natural systems, while at the same time completing important maintenance work that would have been left undone", he said. "Regreen Springfield has been partnering with the City since the tornado occurred, and this is one more example of how they are able to assemble teams of community volunteers to assist in regretting the city", Casey added.

The project is expected to continue next spring with a second day of community service by the Cathedral High School students, as well as two neighborhood resident work days.

About Quarry Pond
Quarry Pond is located on the Camp Wilder wilderness site, 1530 Parker Street, Springfield, Massachusetts.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Two parks to receive new trees and be spruced up by newest class of police officers

Springfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/09/2014 -- The newest class of police officers in Springfield, Massachusetts, who will receive their badges later this month, will be working to regreen two inner-city parks, as well as planting new trees in front of several neighborhood residences in an effort to help regreen the city. Hennessy Park and Adams Playground in the Mason Square and Upper Hill Neighborhoods of Springfield will be the site of the park clean-up and tree planting on Saturday, October 11th. Starting at 9:00 AM, 29 graduating recruits will begin planting new Sweetgum, Ginko, and flowering trees at both parks, as well as in front of residences on Kenyon Street. The work is expected to continue into early afternoon.

Springfield City Forester Edward P. Casey and Mayor Domenic Sarno's Office have worked with Regreen Springfield and the recruits to organize the effort. "This project is a great opportunity for the new officers to really help restore tree canopy in an area of the city that has seen its urban forest take its share of weather impacts over recent years", said Mr. Casey. This project, which represents a gift to the city by the graduating officers, will provide an "opportunity for the officers to interact and work closely with neighborhood residents in both neighborhoods", he added. Eighteen large stature trees will be planted, which will make an immediate impact to the environmental integrity of the parks and streetscape settings. All of the newly planted trees were chosen based on their size, form and visual interest, and are all tolerant of tough urban conditions.

Neighborhood residents are invited to come support the effort at both locations, and they are asked to join the officers and dignitaries in a ceremonial dedication at 10:00 AM at Hennessey Park. Mayor Domenic Sarno is expected to attend the event. Adams Playground is located on Wilbraham Road, near Dearborn Street, and Hennessy Park is at the intersection of Oak Grove Avenue and Kenyon Street.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

'Garden' cemetery landscape receives updated regreening

Springfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/07/2014 -- On October 4, 2104 volunteers from Regreen Springfield, a non-profit tree advocacy group in Springfield, Massachusetts, planted new trees in Springfield Cemetery, a historic landscape located in Springfield. The planting is part of an effort to help restore the tree canopy in the cemetery decimated by storm events in 2011, including an EF-3 tornado and early winter snow storm. The new trees, which are the same species of Flowering Dogwood trees originally planted along Cemetery Lane, the main entry to the site, offer spectacular color in the spring, summer shade and vibrant fall color.

Over 20 volunteers worked to plant the trees and enhance the area along Cemetery Lane which leads from the densely developed city center of Springfield into the open space of the cemetery. The volunteers included students from Cathedral, East Longmeadow and Minnechaug High Schools, along with members of the Springfield Garden Club and the Federated Garden Clubs of Massachusetts. This effort is one of several tree planting and landscape projects planned by Regreen Springfield this fall.

About Springfield Cemetery
Springfield Cemetery is one of the oldest "Garden" or "Rural" cemeteries in the country, and was established in 1841. Cemeteries such as Springfield Cemetery, are called "rural cemeteries" even though most are in or near urban centers, but of their carefully designed park-like landscapes of rolling hills; valleys; willow, cypress, and pine stands; and exotic paintings; winding paths; and well-sited, appropriately and artificially aged-looking Gothic or Egyptian architecture - all providing an atmosphere of peace, contemplation, and order.

There are about 14 generations of New Englanders buried in Springfield Cemetery, forming part of national history going back into the sixteen hundreds. Springfield Cemetery is a rural cemetery that highlights both history and natural beauty. There are over a million plantings in the Cemetery that create a natural appeal of beauty and serenity.and contains grave sites and monuments of prominent citizens. Stones and tablets dating back to 1664 can be found in the cemetery, which were moved into the Cemetery from other early burial sites in Springfield.

For more information on upcoming Regreen Springfield tree planting, workshops and other events, please visit http://www.regreenspringfield.org/events

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Caring for Springfield's Trees... up close and personal.

Springfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/07/2014 -- Regreen Springfield, Inc., which aims to improve the urban forest of Springfield, Massachusetts, has planned a tree pruning event on Saturday, August 16, 2014. The "Tree Pruning Happening" will provide tree maintenance on public trees in two of Springfield's neighborhoods that were impacted by the June 2011 Tornado, which ravaged the city. Members of the Regreen Springfield Tree Tenders will provide instruction to those who have not yet completed the pruning workshops offered by Regreen Springfield, and tools will be provided for those who do not have hand pruners or pruning saws. Prior tree maintenance experience is not needed to participate in this event.

The effort will begin at 8:30 AM and ends with a bar-b-que at Noon for all participants. The event begins at the Regreen Springfield main office, One Federal Street, in the Business Growth Center, just opposite Springfield Technical Community College. Pre-registration for the Tree Pruning Happening is required, so that tools and work plans can be developed, base on participant preferences. Attendees can help for any portion of the morning work period.

The event is open to adults, and youth over 16 years of age who submit a signed parental/guardian consent form.

Registration for the event can be completed online at http://www.regreenspringfield.org/learn

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Efforts are underway to develop teams of trained neighborhood residents to care for trees across the city.

Springfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/14/2014 -- Volunteers are being sought by Regreen Springfield to assist in tree planting and maintenance efforts in Springfield's neighborhoods, planned for this Spring and early Summer. As part of this initiative, community residents will receive technical instruction on how to plant and care for trees, as part of an effort to improve the tree canopy cover across the city. Over 4,000 new trees have been planted in response to the June 2011 tornado, and additional trees will be planted throughout this year, with many being planted by community residents and volunteers.

In addition to planting new trees, many of the newly planted trees need pruning and other care, to ensure they survive and thrive as part of Springfield's urban forest. A series of training and instructional sessions will be offered to residents, who will gain skills in horticulture and plant care, as well as safety and the use of proper tools and equipment. Additionally, volunteers are needed to provide logistical and clerical support for these efforts.

Neighborhood residents and students are also being sought to work as 'citizen scientists' to assist on several research projects being conducted by Regreen Springfield and its partners. These include micro-climate monitoring, tree canopy assessment and tree growth data collection. Please visit http://www.regreenspringfield.org for more information on these exciting opportunities.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm