September 17, 2020

Contact:    Rob Hines

                 P: 260-427-6028

                 C: 260-241-1932

                 Public Information Officer

                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fort Wayne, IN – On Saturday, October 24, from 10am – Noon, Friends of the Parks of Allen County invites citizens to partner with area parks & trails departments, non-profits, businesses, neighborhoods, and community volunteers to plant new trees in parks and public spaces during the 19th annual Great Tree Canopy Comeback.

The event will include invasive species removal to help sustainably continue forest regeneration in all parks and trails around Allen County. To combat invasive species like Honeysuckle, Autumn Olive and Callery Pear, among others, there are more opportunities for volunteering. The four different volunteer categories include: Planters in groups of five people planting trees; Tree Captains to lead groups of Planters; Cutters to remove invasive plants; Couriers to transport the debris to a designated disposal area.

Volunteers of all ages are critical to the success of the event and are encouraged to sign up and help restore the tree canopy. Trees will be planted in the following parks this year: Casselwood, Towpath Trail, and Vesey Parks in Fort Wayne, and Marylands Farm in New Haven. Invasive species will also be removed at Vesey Park.

Volunteers are asked to register in advance by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., responding to the Facebook event, or downloading the signup form at www.facebook.com/yeaparks and mail it to P.O. Box 10152. T-shirts will be given to volunteers who pre-register by October 7. Volunteers need to bring gloves, shovels, loppers, rakes and a wheelbarrow (if possible). Participants should also dress for the weather, as the work will be completed rain or shine.

It is the mission of the Friends of the Parks to promote the stewardship and celebration of the scenic, historic, and recreational resources of the parks and public spaces in Fort Wayne and Allen County. Visit yeaparks.com to donate a tree or for more information.

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