Volunteers of all ages came out to beautify the urban forest in Coachella, joining Mayor Steven Hernandez in the recent Ave 53 rejuvenation.
“We’re just transforming this beautiful, beautiful space,” Hernandez told the Coachella Valley Times. “We have planted 165 trees and plants. We had a great response from the community. You have kids, you have adults and elderly as well, to just show up to really make a difference in Coachella.”
A small army answered the call to help enhance the community urban forest , turning a tired space into one that has new life, a recent City of Coachella Facebook post said.
Besides citizen volunteers, the cleanup endeavor got a boost from the Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire, the Desert Recreation Foundation, and the Coachella Valley Water District for permitting and land use, the post said. Other volunteers and support came from Our Lady of Soledad Catholic Church, the California Urban Forest Council, West Coast Arborists Inc., Taylor Guitars, the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA) and The Britton Fund Inc.
In addition, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and California Climate Investments assisted with funding and support for the beautification project, while The Home Depot and Burrtec Waste Industries Inc. provided mulch and shovels to perform the landscaping.
