First grass seed, now trees: The renewal of Minot continues.
The Minot Lions Club and Minot Park District are working together to provide homeowners in the valley free trees to replace ones lost in the flood of 2011. The Lions Club will pay $50 of the $75 cost, with the park district picking up the remaining $25.
Park district officials estimate the flood destroyed at least 200 boulevard trees. The program with the Lions Club is intended to replace boulevard trees near houses that have been rebuilt so the new trees won't interfere with any construction crews who might still be working done at the home sites. The club hopes to have enough money to continue the boulevard tree program next year, to help homeowners who aren't quite ready yet this year to plant new trees.
As with the Seeds of Hope project done by the Minot Rotary Club, the Minot Lions Club tree project will have a real and visible effect on the city's recovery. Granted, neither program will make a homeowner whole again, but renewal of lawns and trees will provide a much-needed emotional and psychological boost to the affected homeowners. Both service clubs are to be congratulated for their generosity, and their continued support of community projects.