Chatsworth : Kids Help Plant Trees at Metrolink Station

Kicking off a holiday-season beautification campaign, the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce and several dozen local children Sunday planted two trees and about 40 small plants of an endangered species at the Chatsworth Metrolink station.

“You guys ought to remember that you helped plant this tree,” Bill Powers, president of the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce, told about 25 participating children. They shoveled dirt into a sidewalk hole along Devonshire Street, adjoining the station, to prepare for the planting of the first tree, a crape myrtle.

The chamber-sponsored event included an appearance by Santa Claus. He arrived on a firetruck and greeted the children.

“When you all come back, the tree will be planted and you can remember it for the rest of your life,” said Jim Summers, an urban forest manager with TreePeople, who finished the job. The environmental group promotes tree planting.

A second tree was planted a block away from the station, located near Devonshire and Canoga Avenue. Next year, about 40 more trees will be planted along Devonshire between DeSoto Avenue and Topanga Canyon Boulevard as part of the chamber’s Make Chatsworth Greener program, said Jay Berger, who is leading the effort.

As the 72 acres surrounding the station are developed with housing in the next 20 years, the chamber is seeking to ensure there will be plenty of foliage as well, Berger said.

Also Sunday, 40 Santa Susanna tarweed and maroon monkey flowers were planted in mulch spread on the dry ground near the station. Chris Van Schaack of the Tarweed Nursery in Chatsworth brought the plants, hoping they will repopulate the area.

“I want to restore some of the native habitat within the Valley so a bird flying across the Valley will feel at home,” Van Schaack said.