MADISON – A recent weekend project for Rotary Club of Madison has improved the city’s landscape while fulfilling a commitment with Rotary International.

Madison Rotarians came out in full force on May 5 to plant 200 trees in Madison’s new Mill Road Park, a stop along Mill Creek Greenway, Rotarian publicist Carla Daily said. The club members got an early start at 6:30 a.m.

“The trees included hardwoods and pine trees of varying sizes,” Daily said. “About 40 Rotarians, family and friends participated in this community service project in response to the Global Tree Planting Initiative that Rotary International President Ian Risley (originated).”

The Madison club received a grant for $1,000 from Rotary District 6860 to purchase the trees. The City of Madison supported the effort by digging some of the holes in advance of the workday.

“We actually had more trees than expected, so we had to dig the rest (of the holes) the old-fashioned way (with shovels). It was another great day to be part of the ‘Family of Rotary,'” Daily said.

Mill Road Park is a new nature site for the city at the end of Mill Creek Greenway. The park is approximately one-half mile east of County Line Road. “The park has a pond that has an island in the middle,” Madison City Administrator Marc Jacobson said. Jacobson currently is serving as President of Rotary Club of Madison.

The tree planting is associated with Rotary International’s encouragement for each club to plant trees in their respective communities. “The district’s goal was for members of each club to plant 70 to 100 trees,” Jacobson said. Madison Rotarians exceeded that expectation by planting 200 trees.