Resident Spotlight: Tree Planting Event Beautifies Lake Parc Place

Sisters Tyangela and Angelica woke up one bright fall Saturday morning to bustling activity outside their window. People were planting trees.

So the girls decided to help – measuring, digging and finally planting 60 trees on the grounds of Lake Parc Place on the South Side.

“We named one ‘Stacy,’” Tangela said.

The 13-and-12-year-olds were among the 50 or so volunteers who helped beautify the Chicago Housing Authority development on Oct. 4 as part of a campaign to maintain CHA communities like Lake Parc Place in the Oakland neighborhood. Openlands, a northeastern Illinois environmental and conservation organization, provided the trees and equipment and gave instruction. It will also provide the long-term maintenance.

The initiative lends itself to CHA’s mission of creating and sustaining strong communities. Besides providing shade, trees have proven to improve air quality, cool air and reduce pollution.

Lake Parc Place resident Roberta Trotter said she was ecstatic to have assisted in planting of three trees, meeting with positive people and working toward a bright future.

“Trees can inspire the old and the young to walk around, look at something growing…and dream,” Trotter said. “CHA, Openlands and the residents of Lake Parc Place planted a new future for this Oakland community.”

Pictured: Lake Parc Place residents Tyangela and Angelica stand with (left to right) CHA’s Josh Edwards, volunteers, Openlands workers and CHA’s Ellie Hagen.