Opportunity Details
Community Tree Planting - Smith-Peters Park
Trees for a Healthier Future!
Tree canopy coverage is an important asset to urban areas, creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities. From cleaning our air and filtering our water, to slowing down storm surge and flooding in our cities, trees also provide shade that can cool neighborhoods by up to 10 degrees, helping to prevent heat-related deaths and illessess in urban areas that suffer from heat island effect. Green spaces and park settings are also linked to better health outcomes, such as reducing stress-related mental health issues, by improving overall health development in children, and by encouraging physical activity.
Join the City of Richmond's Parks & Rec and the Richmond Tree Stewards for a community tree planting! We will be planting young trees around Smith-Peters Park, located in the Carver neighborhood. Not only will these trees help beautify the area and create habitat for birds and other local wildlife, but once reaching maturity, they will create shade and cool down temperatures in an area frequented by park visitors and playground users.
This project is part of the Cool The City campaign. Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Volunteer Duties & Responsibilities:
Volunteers will be assisting staff from Parks & Rec in tree planting and performing some general tree care and landcaping. Duties will include digging, planting, hand weeding, mulching, and litter pick up. Volunteers may want to bring along sunscreen or a head covering. Please bring along a refillable water bottle - water coolers will beavailable for refills, but we WILL NOT have cups. Feel free to bring along a snack if you feel like you’ll need one.
Qualifications, Skills, & Requirements:
Closed toed shoes are required. Please wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, muddy, or snagged. We will be splitting up into small teams to plant trees, as well as perform general tree care tasks such as hand weeding and mulching around young trees. We may also be picking up litter from around the park. Expect to be kneeling, bending, stooping, digging, hauling, pushing, pulling and yanking, walking long distances across uneven grassy lawns, and working on sloped terrain. Some lifting (max 50 lbs) may be required. We will be outdoors, so be prepared to interact with bugs, slugs, worms, and the occasional lizard – if you are allergic to bug bites please be sure to bring an Epi-pen! No prior planting knowledge required, however experience in root-pruning greatly desired. Gloves and tools will be provided, however feel free to bring along your own pair of gloves if you feel more comfortable with those.
Time Commitment:
Saturday, April 4th from 9am to 12pm. Please arrive on time and plan on staying for the full 3-hours. Sign-ups close 12hrs before the opportunity! This allows for proper planning and communication.
Other Information:
- Upon signup, you will recieve TWO emails; one from CFengage and one from the Opportunity Coordinator at "Qui.Nguyen@rva.gov". Specific meeting location and additional instructions will be sent in the SECOND email - be sure to check your SPAM folder if you have not recived it. All volunteers MUST REPLY to that email to confirm participation, and allow for proper planning for tools and equipment.
- Volunteer hours will be verified within 72hrs after the end of the event, though the CFengage website. Please bring your paperwork with you if a seperate form needs to be signed.
- If arriving by bicycle, there are poles and posts nearby, just be sure to bring a cable lock
- If arriving by GRTC Bus, Route 14, GRTC Pulse (BRT), and Route 1 have nearby stops. Please visit http://ridegrtc.com/planning-your-trip/trip-planner for more details.
- If arriving by vehicle, please give yourself some extra time on arriving to be able to find on-street parking. Car pooling is encouraged!
Have questions or want to learn more details about this event? Feel free to reach out to Qui.Nguyen@rva.gov!
Environment
Age Minimum (with Adult): 14+, Minimum Age:18+, Court Ordered Volunteer - Allowed
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- Choose an existing team you're already a member or captain of, or
- Create a new team to sign up.
Signup Questions
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