HONESDALE, Pa. — The Honesdale Rotary Club in Wayne County is bringing life back to Apple Grove Park on Fair Ave by planting new apple trees!
After more than a dozen trees were cut down because of safety hazards.
Volunteers helping replace those trees tell Newswatch 16 they are excited to make the park a place for the community to enjoy again.
"Apple Grove is this special place right here on the outskirts of the borough that has brought out families for many, many years to enjoy the outdoors here. It's right along the Dyberry Creek, and this apple grove area here for years was a great place to picnic and enjoy, you know, just this uh shaded area, but those trees were somewhat neglected over the years," said James Hamill, Honesdale Rotary Club member.
This environmental and community effort is just the beginning stages of getting Apple Grove Park back to how it was.
The rotary club plans to plant more trees later on and add a variety of new features to the park, like playground equipment.
"We received a district grant, which is part of the environmental clause of the grant, and the district contributed some money to this project, and our club, through fundraising efforts, matched that grant to revive Apple Grove," said Dana Scott, President of Honesdale Rotary Club.
"We see so many people wanting to be outdoors and be outside with their animals, their pets, their families uh fishing right here on the creek to so uh it's a great opportunity to provide a placemaking for people to enjoy what is really a public space and a public good," said Hamill.
The rotary club is inviting the community to join them at a bonfire on April 27th using the old apple trees that once stood in the park.