Urban Tree Canopy Initiative
Despite its bustling downtown location, the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park has many trees. More than 40 trees have been planted as part of the development of the park. Tree varieties include Frontier Elm, Bloodgood Japanese Maple, Eastern Redbud, Frans Fontaine Hornbeam, and Kwanzan Pink Flowering Cherry. Adding to the urban tree canopy of downtown Columbus is faithful to the Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan. The park site – once part of a used car lot – is now a thriving green space. Environmental Justice is Social Justice.
Trees are known most frequently by their common names (i.e. Eastern Redbud). In the Social Justice Park, each tree also has been given a proper name – a name shared with an individual who has been honored through a tree dedication. This family of trees, with its many tributes, both represents and celebrates the diversity of our shared community.
Tree Dedication
On April 28, 2024, the park celebrated its entire collection of trees at a special dedication event. The celebration was one of many community events being held during the week that honors Earth Day. As part of the ceremony, the names of individuals were read who are included in tributes associated with the tree sponsorships. Please use the following link to see the specific tributes designated for each honoree: tree tributes.
Tree Dedication Program
April 28, 2024 at 2:00PM
Welcome:
Alejandro Rodriguez, Chair of Park Trustees and Governing Board Member
Opening Prayer:
Rabbi Emeritus Harold Berman – Tifereth Israel – Park Trustee
Speakers:
Councilmember Christopher Wyche – The Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan
Diane Jackson – Rhema Justice Ministry – B.R.E.A.D. Representative – Environmental Justice
Reading of Names of All Tree Honorees by Park Board Members and Trustees:
Anne Jeffrey Wright, Yvette McGee Brown, and Imran Malik
Poetry Readings by:
Hussnain Malik (OSU) , Raiyaan-Ali Malik (Columbus State), Soha Dua Malik (Dublin Scioto)
Closing Prayer:
Rev. Dr. Timothy Ahrens – First Congregational Church, UCC – Park Trustee
Event Producers:
Bev Cook, Lark Signs, Nicolettecinemagraphics, Nick DeFrancisco (D.J.)
Gladden Social Justice Park Architects:
Architectural Gardens, and Schieber and Associates
Map of Tree Dedications
Tree Dedication Honorees and Tree Locations
- Rev. Dr. Timothy Ahrens – 1, 32, 39
- Eunice Banks – 4
- Otto Beatty, Jr. – 38
- Rev. Jennifer Butler – 30
- Community Volunteers – 36
- Jan Cook – 34, 35
- Gene & Pauline Dahnke – 11
- Jacob Dorn – 40
- Encova Insurance – 5
- Don Erickson – 6
- Jim Fewlass – 12
- Wally Giffen – 23
- Annie Glenn – 29
- Al & Barbara Glover – 9
- Rutherford B. Hayes – 18
- Alan Charles Hodkinson – 15
- Nancy Jeffrey – 8, 13, 24, 26, 33
- Tad Jeffrey – 7, 26
- Michael Misch – 41
- Christopher Mondiek – 17
- Peter Mykrantz – 26
- Rosa Parks – 28
- Rutherford H. Platt – 19, 22
- William Augustus Platt – 21
- Arlene Reynolds – 3
- Second Baptist Church Pastors – 10
- Agnes Shedd Andreae – 15
- Jenkins Smith – 31
- Valerie Stichter – 16
- Rabbi Michael Ungar – 27
- James & Ethel Warren – 20
- Mary Weaver – 37, 42
Tree Sponsors
- Deborah Ahrens
- Lorene Ahrens
- Paul & Anne Ahrens
- Carol Andreae
- David Baron
- Marti Baumer
- George Birkemeyer
- Tony Brown
- Yvette McGee Brown
- Lisa & Charles Carmalt
- Margaret Carmalt
- Bert & Bev Cook
- Charles & Allison Cook
- Bill & Chris Dargusch
- Carole Dorn
- John & Heather Dorn
- Janice Drinan
- Faith in Public Life
- Beth Fisher
- Jim & Carol Gallagher
- The Garden Angels
- James Garland
- Al & Barbara Glover
- Steven Heiser
- Daniel & Lucy Hilburn
- David Hogrefe
- Rosemary Joyce & Ann, Lucy & Mary
- Hannah & Benjamin Justus
- Brian Kemp
- Thomas Kiesel
- Toom Lee
- Keith & Elizabeth Lublin
- Nancy Loy
- The Mason Family
- Joel & Sandy Mathias
- Mary McTernan
- Patricia Myers
- Donald & Susan Mykrantz
- Katherine Paris
- Alexander & Carolyn Platt
- Bill & Nan Platt
- David Platt
- Rutherford Platt
- Emily Prieto
- Marti & Robert Rideout
- Rick Sayre
- Susan Sitler
- Phil Stichter
- Second Baptist Church
- Tifereth Israel
- The Underwood Club of New York
- Bill & Amy Wagner
- Elaine Warren
- Lynn Wallich
- The Weaver Family
- Helen Johnson Williamson
- Dennis Wojtanowski
- Perter Worley
- Tom Worley
- Gerry & Marty Worth
