In case you haven’t noticed, Morris Park Avenue is going green.
The city Parks Department planted several new trees of different varieties along the busy shopping strip this spring.
Now a coalition of community and borough “Green” groups are looking for local merchants and community residents to adopt them to make sure they thrive and grow.
They’ll be holding a Tree Stewardship Event along the avenue this Sunday, August 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. to sign up “adoptees” and give folks some basic lessons in caring for the new Yoshino Cherry, Lilac, Chokecherry and Ivory Silk trees planted in April.
“Once people see those Cherry trees blossom next April, they’ll truly appreciate the value that trees and greenery add to the neighborhood,” said Raphael Schweizer of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association, one of the involved groups. “These are new trees, so they are very vulnerable to disease, lack of water and vandalism.”
Volunteers who adopt the trees will commit to tend to them once a week, said Schweizer.
On Sunday, “We’ll show you how to do so – getting everyone to water, mulch, weed, and more, to ensure the vibrancy and vitality of these infant trees, making sure they thrive and add enrichment and beauty to our community and nearby small businesses for years and decades to come.”
The city Parks Department will providing the free mulch, while the group will be weedking and breaking up the soil around the trees.
They’ll also be distributing free MillionTrees NYC Tree Care guides for “these natural oxygen tanks – as well as neighborhood beautifiers,” said Schweizer.
Also participating in the Tree Stewardship program are the Bronx River Alliance; participants from Parkchester’s Youth Volunteer Organization, G.I.V.E., and the Morris Park Community Association.
The group and volunteers will meet at 1 p.m. at the Morris Park Community Association headquarters at 1824 Bronxdale Avenue, just north of Morris Park Avenue.
For more details, email MorrisParkTrees@gmail.com
