DEARBORN — In the past year, Dearborn Rotary President Bob Gleichauf spearheaded the planting of 66 trees and more than 200 shrubs and bushes in the city.

With support from the Dearborn Rotary Foundation, the tree planting program is in response to a call-to-action by Rotary International President Ian Risely, who challenged each Rotary Club to plant one tree for each club member during the Rotary’s 2017-2018 year.

In the Dearborn area, trees and shrubs are being planted at three area sites, with the first planting in April of 31 trees on the Salina Elementary and Middle School campus.

Salina students and teachers supervised the tree planting along with members of the Rotary Club of Dearborn. Students were able to learn about proper tree planting and care as they watched a variety of tree species being planted in their schoolyard.

Only sugar maples will be planted at the second planting site at The Henry Ford, along the lane leading to the Firestone Farm, keeping with the farm’s original tree colonnade.

Gleichauf presented a check for $10,000 to Becky Dennis of The Henry Ford who will secure and supervise the planting of sugar maples on the Firestone Farm this summer.

Accepting the donation and thanking the Rotary Club, Dennis said the trees will be viewed and enjoyed by the Village’s 200,000 annual visitors as the trees grow to maturity on the farm.

Gleichauf also presented a check for the same amount to Brian Yopp, the MotorCities National Heritage Area’s director of programs & operations, for trees and shrubs to be incorporated into the new Fort Street Bridge Park.

Construction of the park, along with the planting of trees and shrubs, will be completed later this summer. The Fort Street Bridge Park commemorates the site of the Ford Hunger March in March, 1932, a turning point event in labor history that led to the formation of the United Auto Workers in 1935.

Yopp thanked Rotary for its commitment to the park that will be enjoyed by many residents from Dearborn and Detroit.

The Rotary Club of Dearborn is the city’s oldest service organization and is a member of Rotary International.