Cherry Blossom Tree Planting at Rotary Park

On Saturday, May 3rd, members of the Livonia AM and Noon Rotary Clubs, along with community partners like the Kiwanis Club, gathered at Rotary Park for a spirited and meaningful service project to begin revitalizing the park after sections were damaged by an F-1 tornado earlier this year.

The morning kicked off at 10:00 AM with energy and purpose, as volunteers planted native cherry trees along the park’s entrance drive. This marked the first visible step toward restoring the park’s natural beauty and community value.

Nancy Darga coordinated the video documentation of the day’s efforts, with a clipboard in hand, ensuring the message of service and recovery was well captured. The video team, referred by Wayne Kinney, filmed club members, guided by no scripts, starting with Tammy Bonifield explaining the purpose behind the revitalization and the community’s shared vision for the future of the park.

Once the cameras work was done, simultaneously tools came out and the hands-on work began. Steve Alexander, chair of the revitalization committee, played a key role in coordinating the effort; making sure plenty of volunteers came out for the cherry tree planting, organizing the collaboration with the Noon Club, and even providing refreshments (yes, Coke products!).

Susan Paluchniak once again answered the call to feed the hardworking volunteers, continuing her generous support following her efforts during the tornado debris clean-up earlier this year. Claude Kendrick brought tools and muscles to the planting effort—and even made sure the Jimmy John’s subs and chips passed a thorough “taste test.”

Other dedicated Rotarians like Tom Martin, Marlene Katafias, and friend of Rotary Jackie Graham were hard at work planting trees, with Marlene warmly greeting fellow volunteers she seemed to know by name. The collective energy, teamwork, and shared passion for service created a strong kickoff to what will be an ongoing park restoration project.

Representatives from the Rotary Club of Livonia (Noon) came out in force, and the Kiwanis also joined in, exemplifying how community service clubs can come together in times of need to create a lasting impact.

As cherry trees now line the park’s entrance drive, they serve not only as a symbol of renewal but also as a living tribute to the power of collaboration, service, and resilience in the Livonia community.

Claude Kendrick