Greater Fall River Re-Creation Executive Director Grace Gerling invited members of the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program (FRSTPP) to the new Seventh Street Community Garden to plant two new trees on Arbor Day, April 29, 2016. FRSTPP President Mary Ann Wordell spoke about the importance of trees for the health of the community before Special Assistant to Mayor Jasiel Correia II Faust Fiore presented an Arbor Day Proclamation to Bank Street Neighborhood Association President Natalie Melo, Niagara Neighborhood Association President John Sylvia, and Ms. Gerling who will be principally responsible for the garden along with dozens of volunteers. The City has turned the space over to Greater Fall River Re-Creation to be operated by the Bank Street, Niagara and Father Kelly Neighborhood Associations. As the tree planting ceremony was completed, workers from Century Paving and Construction began work on the foundation for a new tool shed to be donated by Lowes. Click here for a nine-minute   video of the event. For more information, contact Natalie Melo at 508-916-8596 or Grace Gerling at 508-679-0922.. 

(Top row, left) Bank Street Neighborhood Association President Natalie Melo goes over plans for the garden with Special Assistant to Mayor Jasiel Correia II Faust Fiore. (Top row, center) Ms. Melo greets Roger Keyes, Joshua Correiro and Joshua Soojian of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Fall River Street Tree Planting Program President Mary Ann Wordell. (Top row, right) Ivette-Joy Willis of DCR talks with Mr. Soojian and Mr. Correia before the event begins. (Middle row) The group gathers between the two newly-planted trees as Ms. Gerling and Ms. Wordell speak. (Row three) Mr. Fiore makes some remarks before awarding citations to Mr. Sylvia and Ms. Melo. (Bottom row) Ms. Gerling and Ms. Melo spread mulch around the base of one of the trees just before Mile Silva and Carlos Cabral of  Century Paving and Construction begin excavation for a base for a new tool shed and Ms. Melo offers some fresh vegetables to the crowd..