The “I Dig Long Beach” tree-planting project funded by a Port of Long Beach grant is doing more than greening neighborhoods and building community pride – it’s also providing a chance for local businesses to participate.
When more than 100 people gathered on Saturday, September 20, at Los Cerritos Park in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach for the planting of 60 trees, they were joined by Port of Long Beach contractor Edgemoor Infrastructure and Real Estate, who deployed one of its 2,500-gallon water trucks to assist with watering the saplings. Each of the young trees needs 15 gallons of water upon planting to ensure a healthy start and successful growth.
Edgemoor, a Maryland-based real estate, development and finance company, is part of the construction group that worked on the new Long Beach Courthouse and the 405/22 Freeway interchange. Edgemoor contacted the Port for opportunities to contribute to a green community project. The Port steered Edgemoor to “I Dig Long Beach.”
Edgemoor spokesman Jeff Fullerton said, “As a company we really like to focus on giving back both time and money to the communities that we have active projects in, helping offset our carbon footprint and making those communities as livable as possible.”
The tree planting honored the memory of Long Beach resident Lillian Kawasaki, environmentalist and former board member of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California who died last year. As a special tribute to Kawasaki, a jacaranda tree was planted to commemorate her environmental efforts.
The Los Cerritos Park tree planting is part of a citywide project funded by the Port’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program. The Port has awarded over $18 million since 2009 in community grants to reduce the health effects of port-related air pollution and greenhouse gases.
With its landmark Green Port Policy, the Port of Long Beach is a recognized industry leader in environmental stewardship worldwide.
