Ivins Community Gathers to Bring Beauty and Shade to Unity Park

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Ivins volunteers recently joined the Department of Parks and Recreation to plant nearly 100 trees and shrubs around local playing fields and recreational facilities.

Under the leadership of Parks Department Superintendent and City Arborist Joseph Rawlinson, volunteers of all ages gathered to help improve Ivins.

Rawlinson and the Parks crew kicked off the event with a presentation on how to plant a tree properly. Beginning with finding where a tree needs to go, Rawlinson demonstrated how to expose and prepare the roots of a tree when it is removed from a container, how wide and deep to dig a hole and how to properly stake a tree to ensure its future success.

“Joseph and the Parks team did an excellent job sharing tree planting information and demonstrating how to plant properly,” Ivins Inspired founder Tiffany Wynn said, “and it was nice to see all ages come out to help.”

Shovels were distributed and volunteers dispersed to put that lesson to work, putting trees and shrubs into holes that had been dug in advance, as well as digging additional holes in places the Parks Department had previously marked.Their efforts were supported by local businesses that donated tools/supplies, and multiple tree companies that volunteered their arborists and industry professionals to assist with the planting and to answer questions from attendees, Rawlinson said.

“We had some amazing volunteer groups support us with getting the word out as well as providing volunteers,” he said. “I cannot thank them enough.”

The Desert Preservation Initiative was one group joining the effort. The group’s president Deonne Knill said the event “presented a perfect activity for us after all our efforts trying to remove invasive species.” She found the Arbor Day effort very fitting because “the City is really dedicated to planting trees that are native to our desert,” as initiative members are committed to “donating their time and energy into restoring our natural environment. For us to expand our efforts into the city we call home just feels right.

“A lot of thought and planning went into their Arbor Day celebration,” she added. “The trees will provide shade and cooler temperatures for park users as well as habitat for our feathered friends.”

The afternoon hours saw trees and shrubs, including live oak and crepe myrtle, among many others, added to the perimeters of the parking lot and the playing fields at Unity Park, then watered by the Parks crew.

Adults and kids of all ages, along with the mayor and members of the City Council grabbed shovels and trowels and knelt in the dirt to move the project forward.

“It was nice to see all ages come out to help,” said Wynn of Ivins Inspired, adding that “I love that our City Council members and Mayor are so committed to community events like this.”

Rawlinson said the event was beneficial on several fronts.

“The Arbor Day event met and exceeded my expectations,” Rawlinson said. “Community events are the glue that unite a collection of people for a common cause.

“In the case of Arbor Day, we united to provide the many benefits of the Urban Forest for the generations to come. Shade, noise reductions, privacy, carbon offset and improved air quality are a few of the many benefits that will now be available at Unity Park. These benefits will only grow as the trees reach full maturity, exponentially impacting the rising generations