YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Despite cold and rainy weather, more than 100 volunteers, including students from Youngstown State University, came together Thursday to plant 1,600 trees at Mill Creek MetroParks’ wildlife sanctuary property.
The event marked the fifth annual tree planting organized by YSU Legacy Forests.
The trees planted through the years represent 19 various species and are part of a broader initiative to reduce greenhouse gases by establishing micro-forests in the Mahoning Valley. This year’s planting is the first to take place at Mill Creek MetroParks’ wildlife sanctuary property, which the MetroParks acquired in 2021.
The planting brings the total number of trees planted through the Legacy Forests project to over 6,000, according to Nick Derico, natural resources manager at Mill Creek MetroParks.
“Today we are getting cold and wet, but we are also planting 1,600 trees,” he said. “A lot of really great groups have come together to make this happen.”
The planting focuses on reforesting a former agricultural field that once grew corn and soybeans, with the goal of restoring it to a natural woodland. In addition to the trees, volunteers are also working on a native grass prairie restoration project at the site.
“These naturalizations are important to the MetroParks as well,” Derico said.
YSU Legacy Forests is dedicated to planting one tree for every incoming YSU freshman.
“A lot of really great groups have come together to make this happen.” Derico said. “This year’s trees were bought from a few different nurseries, and they were supplied by FirstEnergy.”
In addition, the project is affiliated with YSU and supported by Mill Creek MetroParks, Arbor Day Foundation, Mahoning County Land Bank, YSU Foundation, Boardman Subaru and private donations from YSU alumni and friends.
Of the 1,600 trees planted, there were 1,000 bare-root trees and 600 potted trees.
“We’re trying out different types of trees, but what is most important is that we’re planting a variety of native trees. This is an enclosed area, so they’ll be safe from deer. We’ll see how they grow together,” said Colleen McLean of YSU Legacy Forests.
Christina Corturillo, a senior at YSU and longtime volunteer, said she has participated in every tree planting since her freshman year.
“It’s all about making a positive impact, making memories and bringing everyone together over values we can share,” she said. “It’s a nice thing we can do, especially in Youngstown. Micro-forests are needed.”
“We have been planting trees for YSU freshmen so they have something to come back to,” McLean said. “Sort of the metaphor of literally putting roots in the ground, and then also branching out as they go off into their futures.”
As the project moves forward, YSU Legacy Forests plans to continue its mission of environmental stewardship.
“Going forward, we will keep planting for our students, and they’ll have somewhere to come back to and look at the trees that they planted and, hopefully, remember the experience as well,” McLean said.