Plant for the Future Campaign
Jun 05, 2019
Katie Nyberg
Plant for the Future Campaign

Emerald Ash Borer is making its way across Minnesota and the highly-visible loss of ash trees is impacting our communities beyond our city streets. Major changes to the Mississippi River's landscape are on the horizon. The 72-mile Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, the national park in the heart of the Twin Cities, will lose more than 20% of its canopy within the next ten years, forever changing the landscape, river quality, natural areas and wildlife we love.  Plant for the Future, a program of Mississippi Park Connection, is a proactive plan to improve this outlook through a $1M campaign including educational programming, plantings, special events, volunteer and fundraising opportunities, and more.  Former RI President Ian S. Riseley challenged Rotary clubs across the globe to plant trees in their communities for every member of their club. #9 and Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary have committed to providing 300 trees that will be planted as part of the Plant for the Future campaign.  To facilitate more robust trees and also support trees well beyond the initial commitment, Rotary will first be installing a community tree nursery (otherwise referred to as a gravel bed) that will support the growth of healthy trees for years into the future. The tree nursery will be installed at Coldwater Spring (park area near Minnehaha Falls owned and managed by the Park Service).