“I just like to give back”, John, a CSX volunteer said, in the unforgiving 92 degree heat, “A little sweat never hurt anyone”.

That much is certain after 150 CSX and volunteers, and some neighborhood heat-lovers, spent 2 hours digging, planting, hauling, mulching, hammering, and sweating in the Northern half of Klutho Park Thursday afternoon. 

A joint venture between CSX, City of Jacksonville, and the volunteer organization City Year, Klutho Park was selected as the recipient of 100 new trees.

“CSX and COJ chose the sight, and City Year coordinated the volunteer effort”, Christopher Carr, the City Year supervisor for the effort explained, “100 trees, 5 different types, from the tennis courts to just before the baseball field.” 

Live oak, holly, cypress, magnolia, and 2 types of crape myrtles were planted.

The mass planting is part of CSX’s nationwide ‘Trees for Tracks’ program, in which the Jacskonville-based rail and shipping company plants trees in areas cited in need of greenery. Their previous planting was in Indianapolis, and the next is scheduled for Nashville.

“Greenscape and Davey Tree Service will be maintaining the trees in the park. In fact, Davey will be watering the trees for 1 full year,” Mr. Carr explained.

The new trees can be found starting at the official entrance to Henry J. Klutho Park, near 5th & Boulevard and running South, roughly following Hogans Creek, ending shortly before the baseball diamond.  (Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of foul territory.)

Trees were also placed along side of both the Boulevard and Pearl Street bridges, as well as the small triangular swath of land near 4th & Pearl.

The mass planting is a “fantastic gift to the future of Springfield”, one neighborhood resident stated, who asked to remain anonymous “you can’t put a price on shade and tree canopy. Everybody loves trees”. 

Bill Hoff