The Ames Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded a $10,000 Community Forestry Grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Funds from this grant assist communities with recovering from the August 2020 derecho and tree loss from Emerald Ash Borer. This grant will be used to plant 75 trees in public rights-of-way in the Toronto Street neighborhood.

The Ames Parks and Recreation Department, the Ames Foundation, and volunteers will be planting these trees from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 20. To volunteer, sign up under Upcoming Events on the Ames Foundation website at https://www.amesfoundation.org/. Volunteers will meet at the corner of Toronto Street and Alberta Avenue. The event will begin with a tree planting demonstration. All ages are welcome to participate.