The new officially opened in Fort 91原创 in June with a ribbon-cutting, plaque unveiling and a fly-past.
Thirty trees have been arranged as a place to stop and relax on the Salmon River Trail between the Fort to Fort Trail and Billy Brown Road.
Each tree has its own name, many of them whimsical like 鈥渕ay contain nuts,鈥� 鈥渂loomers鈥� and 鈥渨here pigs fly.鈥�
鈥淲e wanted to give personalities to the trees so everyone who sponsored a tree was asked to select a name,鈥� said Kurt Alberts, one of the organizers of the project.
Fort 91原创 resident Janel Doyle named one tree after her son, Linc, as a way of expressing in literal terms how her family has taken root in Fort 91原创.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the most important thing in our life,鈥� she said of her son.
鈥淚t gives him a legacy. No matter what happens in life, he鈥檚 got a place to come (visit) and he鈥檒l always have the memories of being in Fort 91原创.鈥�
Three horse chestnuts, 14 red horse chestnuts, 11 grand firs and two western red cedars were planted by contractor Heidelberg Landscaping.
Members of the First Fort 91原创 Scout Group planted riparian shrubs, including Red Twig Dogwood, Twinberry, White Snowberry and Evergreen Huckleberry.
The project was inspired by the legacy left nearly a century ago by Dr. Benjamin Marr, who planted trees in front of the Marr House and the Fort 91原创 Cemetery on Glover Road that have grown to form a towering canopy over the road.
Marr planted 17 Horse Chestnuts on the west side, and seven Horse Chestnuts, alternated with Western Red Cedars, on the east side.
In the cemetery, more Western Red Cedars were planted to form the backdrop for the cenotaph, along with Rhododendrons.
Alberts said the inspiration to build on that legacy goes back to a meeting he had with Dr. Marr鈥檚 son, Bill Marr, a number of years ago.
Bill, who passed away at the age of 100 in February, was only four-years-old when his father planted the heritage trees.
鈥淚t was a feel-good project,鈥� Alberts said, one that brought the community together.
Alberts said pulling off such an ambitious legacy project required a lot of volunteers and businesses to come together.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to have an idea, but it鈥檚 one thing to actually make it happen,鈥� Alberts said.
鈥淭he dollars are pretty significant.鈥�
If it wasn鈥檛 for the success of the Grove fundraising gala on April 19, 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 have been able to pull this off,鈥� Alberts said.
Alberts estimated the cost at about $50,000, not including the pro bono efforts of Mark van der Zalm, whose landscaping company donated staff and time.
Van der Zalm, who was MC at the opening, said the Grove would provide 鈥渁 node on the trail where people can stop and rest for a moment.鈥�
Township mayor Jack Jack Froese called it a 鈥渧ery special project鈥� that will benefit future generations
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see this grove come to life,鈥� Froese said.
Alberts presented a community spirit award to Lee鈥檚 Market for their support of the project. Following the ribbon cutting, there was a fly-past by the Fraser Blues formation flying team.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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