This summer, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ capacity to increase the city’s urban tree canopy is growing in a new way! In collaboration with the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Urban League and AT&T, Friends has launched its first-ever Green Team to steward and maintain newly planted trees.
As tree planting activities in Grand Rapids have ramped up in recent years, so has the need for on-going watering and maintenance to keep the trees healthy and growing strong. In response to this need and following its mission to empower people to cultivate vibrant green spaces, Friends collaborated with the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Urban League to develop a paid summer youth employment program, funded in part by AT&T, and launching in 2020.
The Green Team is made up of four youth ages 15-20 from the Roosevelt Park area, working part-time alongside Friends’ staff to help water nearly 300 trees planted by the organization during the 2019 Mayor’s Greening Initiative. Each of these trees will receive 10-15 gallons of water per week throughout the summer in order to thrive. The Green Team plays a critical role in contributing to the city’s 40 percent tree canopy goal.
As part of the Green Team, youth are not only actively improving their environment, but also building job skills, having enriching environmental experiences, and becoming change agents. Friends is excited about the potential of the program to promote a place-based mentality and foster civic pride among the youth and community.
The Grand Rapids community has been key in helping to make the Green Team youth employment program a reality. Friends hopes to expand this program to include more youth in future summers.