To celebrate the start of the fall season, FirstEnergy Corp. and its electric company, Penn Power, recently donated nearly 130 trees to Buhl Park in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. A mixed variety of red oak, pitch pine, pin oak and ironwood trees were planted on Sept. 22 by FirstEnergy and Penn Power employees along 500 sq ft of green space dedicated to helping rebuild the mixed hardwood forest around the Mercer County park.
FirstEnergy has donated and planted more than 10,000 trees throughout its six-state service territory since April 2021. This initiative is an important part of the company's efforts to reduce FirstEnergy's carbon footprint, promote responsible use of natural resources and further the advancement of sustainable practices.
Led by FirstEnergy's Green Team in western Pennsylvania, this tree-planting event was one of several projects employees have completed this year to help nearby parks, nature reserves and communities across FirstEnergy's entire footprint.
"FirstEnergy contributed the funds to cover the cost of the trees, and more than a dozen employee volunteers spent several hours planting them around the beautiful park, which is a historical landmark enjoyed by many of our local employees and their families," said John Greenwood, an external affairs consultant and Green Team member at FirstEnergy who organized the event.
FirstEnergy's 10 Green Teams consist of employees from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia who volunteer their time and talents to support a wide variety of environmental initiatives. The groups plan to continue to partner with state park systems, watershed and recycling groups, garden clubs, schools and other environmentally focused organizations in 2021 to support FirstEnergy's commitment to building a brighter and more sustainable future.
Established in 1915, Buhl Park is a recreational and cultural destination in the heart of western Pennsylvania's Shenango Valley that welcomes nearly half a million local and national visitors each year. Spanning 270 scenic acres, the park offers green spaces and lake views, playgrounds and recreational areas, fitness and biking trails, gardens, wetlands and the nation's only free 9-hole golf course.
"These trees will help restore forested habitat within the park that we've lost over the years, and we look forward to monitoring the trees and helping them along as they mature," said Ryan Voisey, director of operations at Buhl Park. "We appreciate FirstEnergy and Penn Power's commitment to preserving our local parks and forests."
For more information about FirstEnergy's environmental and corporate responsibility efforts, please visit www.fecorporateresponsibility.com.
