Texas Border Business –
WHO:
- Commissioner John Ingram, District 5, City of McAllen
- Mike Hernandez, Director, City of McAllen Parks & Recreation Dept.
- Chris Lash, Executive Director, Keep McAllen Beautiful
- Dr. John Goolsby, President, Main Street Community Garden,
- Community Volunteers: Cub Scout Pack 68, Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance, Target
WHAT: Planting of 250 McAllen Champion Tree seedlings
WHEN: Saturday, December 10, 2016 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Crocket Elementary, 2112 N. Main St.
WHY: Community volunteer, Dr. Goolsby, has collected seedlings from 250 of the biggest and oldest trees in McAllen, and in one case, the world, in order to help the City of McAllen develop a champion tree farm that is not only the first-of-its-kind in the Rio Grande Valley, but also, in the state.
“I am so proud to be part of initiative that is laying the groundwork for the future beautification and preservation of our McAllen environment,” said Comm. Ingram. “I encourage our community to come be a part of this, even if just to witness the living history passed on by the beauty and strength of our local champion trees that will continue to live on in new trees. These trees will provide shade, oxygen and foliage to our children and to the streets and parks of our city for generations to come.”
Seeds from the large Anacua tree from Quinta Mazatlan; large cypress trees along the Rio Grande, and McAllen’s and the world’s Champion Ebony Tree, the 240 year old biggest Ebony tree have been nurtured and are now ready to be planted in farm design this Saturday by volunteers from the nearby community garden, local cub scouts and other tree and nature enthusiasts. By collecting the local genetics of native plant species, and nurturing them, the City of McAllen will soon develop a tree farm that will be able to replace old and dying trees and help to rebuild tree canopies throughout the city, which equates to property value.
According to Goolsby, the tree farm is in a great location because it is flat and will also receive regular and constant irrigation by Water District 3, to help the trees receive the water that they need so that in five to 10 years, the City of McAllen should have a big tree farm for very little cost.
“I’m really glad to live in a community like McAllen, that has such forward thinkers such as Commissioner Ingram and Mike Hernandez, the Parks & Recreation Director, who listened to this idea from a community volunteer, saw the value in it, and helped to make it happen,” said Goolsby.
To volunteer or participate, please contact Keep McAllen Beautiful at 681-4562 or kmb@mcallen.net
