Some of you may have noticed the trees being planted this week at P.W. West Park. This is part of an effort to reforest the park.
West Park’s beautiful virgin pine canopy was destroyed in the 2020 hurricanes. Those old growth pine trees cannot be replaced or regrown in our lifetime, yet oak trees — a symbol of strength, stability and longevity — will provide shade and beauty for the future.
Much planning has gone into this project. The City of DeRidder purchased 25 trees from Wilkinson Tree Farm, in Iowa, La., and the company is assisting with the trees being planted this week. Being planted are Louisiana native trees -- nine live oaks, eight red oaks and eight willow oaks.
Sponsorships are also being sought to purchase and plant 25 additional trees to help in the reforestation project.
Sponsorships are $2,000 each and will earn donors a spot on a large, commemorative metal tree that will be placed in the park.
Trees are monuments to the future, and sponsorships can be made in the memory or honor of someone, and can represent a business, organization or individual.
Ornamental trees will also be added in a second phase of the project and there will be additional opportunities to sponsor those, at a lesser amount.
Those interested in sponsorships can contact Ashley Craddock at 337-462-8900 or by e-mail at acraddock@cityofderidder.org.
You can see the entire West Park Master Plan here: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/rtca/upload/West-Park-Master-Plan.pdf
