Troop 19 Brings Trees To Radnor Trail

Two white oaks, one red oak, one gray dogwood and one redbud tree found new homes yesterday afternoon as part of Radnor Township’s Arbor Day Celebration with the help of Cub Scout Troop 19.

Over 40 neighbors, parents and conservation advocates, about 20 of them cub scouts, converged at the Gallagher Road entrance of the Radnor Trail Park at 6:00 p.m. yesterday to help plant these five trees with The Radnor Township Parks & Recreation Department, The Radnor Conservancy, The Radnor Township Shade Tree Commission and The Friends of Radnor Trail Park.

Scoutmaster Ray Adams was excited about the event.

“We always do some type Earth Day project,” he said. The troop usually works in the Skunk Hollow community gardens or with other cleanup projects in the area to commemorate the holiday. But after asking around for ideas this past January, he came across this idea with the other local departments.

And, for the scouts, this particular Arbor Day would stand in the troop’s and the scout’s memory.

“We talked about how trees become legacies,” Adams said. He hoped that as the scouts got older they would come to the trail, see the trees and remember the work they did here.

Some of the kids began at the Liberty Lane entrance of the trail and walked to Gallagher Rd., taking turns with Adams to pull the wagon full of shovels. When the scouts arrived, they were welcomed by with a few words from Tammy Cohen, the Interim Director of Parks & Rec. Then the troop broke into their five dens and helped plant each tree, which were donated with a grant from The Radnor Conservancy.

This is the 28th year Radnor Township has received a Tree City USA Award, which is a national award from the Arbor Day Foundation.

“This is a great event,” said Cohen, who has typically worked during the day with school students in past Arbor Day events. “It’s like a lot of great things collided.” The conservancy, spearheaded by Chales Kline and Laurie Miccolis, had the trees, and Adams had the eager troop. This event, the first of its kind, came together as a true community celebration.

Rick Hartley from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Department of Conservation of Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, presented the Tree City USA and Growth Award to the township. He spoke about the history of Arbor Day and the importance of engaged communities.

“Does that help the environment?” said one boy, pointing at the newly planted tree behind him.

Hartley grinned. “Absolutely.”

The township departments will be sponsoring a number of environmental events in the upcomings weeks and months, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, get out to the trail and check out those brand new trees.

“I want to get the kids connected to the township,” Adams said. “A lot of these kids use this trail.”