Our friends at Adventure Aquarium love planting trees in Camden communities. For the past two years, they have sponsored community-based events to improve the environment and quality of life in inner city neighborhoods.
300 Block of York Street
The first event, held in November of 2013, planted 16 street trees along the 300 block of York Street with about 85 volunteers! This tree planting was organized by York Street resident Shirley G. and her neighbors, in partnership with Jessica from the NJ Tree Foundation and Dave Littlehale from Adventure Aquarium. Community-based plantings unite residents and empower them to beautify the neighborhoods they call home. “Thank you to Adventure Aquarium for choosing to plant trees on York Street. We can’t wait until spring! They’re going to look so beautiful” explained Shirley at her tree planting event.
In addition to providing resources to purchase and plant the trees, Adventure Aquarium also provided complimentary tickets to their facility to every family on York Street. “It is an honor to partner with Adventure Aquarium. Their generosity is extremely heart-warming. They took a tree planting and made it into so much more,” explained Jessica Franzini, Program Director in Camden.
In a Proclamation from Mayor Dana L. Redd to Adventure Aquarium on November 2nd, Mayor Redd wrote, “Thank you to Adventure Aquarium for your commitment to the Camden community and your dedication to moving our city forward.”
North Camden Little League
and the 100-200 Blocks of York Street
The second event, held in September of 2014, planted 20 trees with nearly 40 volunteers from the North Camden Little League, Adventure Aquarium, and TD Bank. The trees were planted at the Dominick Andujar t-ball field at Point/Erie Street, utilized by nearly 100 youth ages 5-7 that participate in the North Camden Little league’s t-ball program. “From May to late August, we have kids out here every weeknight for practice and on the weekends for games,” explained Bryan Morton, Director of the North Camden Little League. “In the summer, it gets SO hot. I’ve seen parents wait in the car with air conditioning as their children play. These trees are part of a larger effort to improve this field – in this case, bringing the shade we need so that families and kids can truly enjoy the community that is fostered around the amazing sport of baseball.”
In addition to planting trees at the t-ball field, this effort lined the 100 and 200 blocks of York Street with beautiful cherry blossoms! “This projects actually connects geographically to our 2013 project,” explained Dave Littlehale of Adventure Aquarium, “and knowing our efforts at the field will impact so many youth and families makes me so proud to be a part of this planting event.” During the opening ceremony, Bryan Morton added, “Adventure Aquarium’s commitment to the Camden community is truly a blessing, and we thank you for what you are making possible here today!”
As if that’s not enough, Adventure Aquarium provided a complimentary 4-pack of aquarium tickets to all 100 families associated with the t-ball division of the North Camden Little League.
Special thanks to Kevin Keppel, Dave Littlehale, and the many volunteers from Adventure Aquarium that joined us for both events. Thank you also to United Water Camden, MAFCO Worldwide Corporation, Camden County Metro Police Department, and TD Bank for your in-kind donations toward this project.
