West Penn Power volunteers helped plant 136 trees at Slippery Rock Borough Park on Monday to commemorate Earth Day.
The volunteers planted red oak, white oak, sawtooth oak, red maple, silver maple, river birch and eastern hop-hornbeam to repopulate tree species native to Pennsylvania.
West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, reached out to Slippery Rock Borough to organize the event as a part of an environmental volunteer initiative. FirstEnergy is set to plant 25,000 trees in 2024 across its service area, 7,000 of which will end up in Pennsylvania.
The West Penn Power volunteers worked alongside borough organizers starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at noon. The volunteers covered the 136 trees in UV shields to ensure their growth and protect the young trees from deer.
Slippery Rock Borough Manager Christian Laskey said the landlocked area in Slippery Rock Borough Park was designated for the trees to make it “an actual greenspace instead of a lawn.”
Laskey also said the new forestation would allow the borough to improve the park while continuing with as little maintenance as possible, not having to mow the empty lot.
Future plans for the park include paving the trails, pending a request for proposal from a previously received grant, and the ongoing assembly of an ADA compliant playground.
Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation Director Denton Zeronas said upcoming events include the Mother/Son Carnival at the Parks and Recreation Center Building on Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the Father/Son Dodgeball Tournament at Slippery Rock Area Elementary on May 17 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
Zeronas and Laskey said the park is always welcoming volunteers for events like helping assemble the ADA compliant playground.
The park director also said they are actively looking for swimming instructors for the summer and would also be open to working with students who may have an internship requirement for their major or university organizations who need to fill a philanthropic requirement.
