Just as trees in Mahomet began to lose their leaves, the Mahomet Rotary Club thought about the future beauty 35 trees would bring to the new kayak/canoe launch located near the Sangamon River on IL-47.
Planting trees is an annual service project that began in 2018 when the Rotary offered their services to Mahomet Parks and Recreation at 13 Acres and then the Mahomet-Seymour School District at Middletown Prairie Elementary.
“It’s very special to be involved in service projects that offer multiple levels of value and are long term,” Mahomet Rotary President Jason Tompkins said. “Trees give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilize the soil and give homes and shelter to wildlife. When you think about how long trees live, multiple generations will get to enjoy these trees. And, it’s fun to walk or drive by a tree that we’ve planted and watch it grow.”
Mahomet Parks and Recreation Director Dan Waldinger knew that 16 or 17 trees would need to be removed from the Sangamon River Greenway as Midstate Excavation, Inc. constructed the 6-foot path that leads from the ADA compliant parking lot to the river.
MPRD has a policy of planting two trees for every one that is removed. The rotary chose native Red Maple, Oak and Hackberry trees.
Eight Rotarians and two spouses were joined by 14 Mahomet-Seymour Interact Club members and sponsor Rhonda Starkey to plant the trees on October 24.
“The idea of just getting outside, digging in the soil, getting mud on our boots, getting to know the younger generation, and physically contributing to the future of our community can really take your mind off the turmoil we’re all currently experiencing,” Thompkins said. “It feels good to live our Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self.’”
Thompkins added that planting trees on Oct. 24 is only a snippet of the work Rotary is doing worldwide.
“This years tree planting event also corresponded with World Polio Day. In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus,” Thompkins said. “This initiative placed Rotary as a partner in the world side eradication of polio. This year has special significance as Africa has been declared free of the polio virus. To grant some perspective, 24 years ago 75,000 African children were being paralyzed by polio each year.
“Having positive impacts both locally and globally is humbling and empowering. Rotary Club of Mahomet is so pleased to be able to play a small role in this greater good.”
