Urban Forest Friends (UFF), FUN Rotary and Union City Parks partnered to host Union City’s first community tree planting event at Sugar Mill Park on April 11. More than 83 volunteers came out to plant 25 Oklahoma Redbud and Chinese Pistache trees, which will add vibrant seasonal color and future shade along the park trail.
Mayor Gary Singh and Union City Parks and Grounds supervisor Jesus Banuelos and his team played key roles in making the event possible. Mayor Singh welcomed participants, provided refreshments and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to expanding its tree canopy.
A late morning rain shower didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of volunteers, who represented the Union City Green Team, FUN Rotary, Niles Rotary, several local high schools (James Logan, Newark Memorial, American and Washington) and Shah Satnam Ji Welfare.
Urban Forest Friends volunteer coordinators Shamsa Rafay and Yoo-Yoo Yeh were thrilled to see such a diverse turnout, including many first time tree planters. As Rafay, who is also New Haven Unified School District board president, reflected, “Such events bring the best out of Union City. Everyone came knowing they might have to shovel in the rain and mud but did it for the sake of sustaining our environment.”
Residents are encouraged to visit Sugar Mill Park to see the newly planted trees, which will grow into a larger green canopy for the community to enjoy.
Urban Forest Friends will celebrate another milestone on April 25 with the planting of its 1,000th tree in the Tri-City area at Mirabeau Park in Newark. UFF founder Lynn Miller will be visiting for this momentous occasion.
For more information about Urban Forest Friends and volunteer opportunities, visit UrbanForestFriends.org.
