05/30/2026
On April 24th of this year, the planting process at the new MLNP Microforest commenced. As part of the United Way Day of Caring, volunteers planted 257 native trees.
May 9th was the day for planting native shrubs. Members of the Muskegon and Grand Rapids Rotary Clubs planted 210 native shrub species.
On May 21st, students from Reeths Puffer Twin Lake Elementary School began the process of planting native groundcover plants. The kindergarten students, their teachers and parents planted 125 plants!
Reeths Puffer Pennsylvania Elementary School arrived on May 22nd and planted 125 additional native groundcover plants.
On May 27th, Reeths Puffer Central Elementary first graders planted 180 native groundcover plants and was the first group to pose in front of the posing tree! The microforest path was laid out to include access to this very unique shaped tree for family photo ops!
And finally, on May 29th, sixth grade students from Reeths Puffer Intermediate School finished planting 225 groundcover plants and an additional 30 shrubs!
Planting for this year is now complete! Watering and weeding will continue throughout the rest of the year.
Thank you so much to all the students, teachers & parents of Twin Lake, Pennsylvania and Central Elementary Schools, Reeths Puffer Intermediate School, Muskegon and Grand Rapids Rotary Club members and the United Way Day of Caring volunteers for your hard work in planting 890 native trees, shrubs and groundcover in the new MLNP microforest!
Soil prep work for phases 2 and 3 of the microforest will begin in August.
