City gets grant for trees at park

The City of Rector has received a grant for $6,456 for restoration of trees lost in the January ice storm.

The award, part of the Ice Storm Recovery Grant Program, came from the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

Tree planting will take place in Rector Memorial Park, an area hard hit during the ice storm. A state-approved arborist will be involved in the planting of the trees and the overall implementation of the grant funds. This is not a matching grant -- all the funds are coming through the U.S. Forestry Service.

Nita Bowden, chairman of the Rector Parks and Recreation Commission, submitted the grant application and received a letter of congratulations from Patti Erwin, urban forestry coordinator for the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

"Thank you for you dedication in furthering the importance of Arkansas' natural resources and assisting in recovery efforts through forest restoration activities," Erwin said in the letter.

Mayor Ron Kemp thanked Bowden and the commission for their work in submitting the grant and for their efforts in planting and maintaining trees in Rector Memorial Park.

"We have one of the most beautiful parks in this area and everyone in the community is really proud of it," Kemp said. "It takes constant work to maintain the park and receipt of this grant is a great step in that process."