Viewfinder: Moross Greenway Project

Trees wrapped in burlap sacks lined Moross Road from I-94 to Mack Avenue early Saturday waiting for more than 120 volunteers to plant them as part of the Moross Greenway Project. 

The project is a multi-year effort to make green enhancements and beautifications to the corridor easily traveled by hundreds daily. Many organizations are involved with the project including The Greening of Detroit, the Cornerstone Neighborhood Association, the Greenway Project committee as well as area churches and residents.

Wayne County Commissioner Tim Killeen said Saturday's tree planting is phase one of the project, which has had overwhelming support. 

The second phase of the project includes heavy gardening and landscaping of the median separating the boulevard style street and is projected to start in the spring of 2012, said Dean Hay, Director of Green Infrastructure for the Greening of Detroit.

Hay also donated his time to complete the landscape architecture work for design of the project, said Sheila O'Hara, president of the Greenway Project committee. O'Hara is a Grosse Pointe Farms resident who also served on the Farms Beautification Committee for years. 

The $500,000 project just gained its 501C3 status and will begin soliciting donations, O'Hara said, which will help pay for the shrubs, plants and irrigation planned for the median. 

Hay said a seating area is also in the works near Chester and Moross in conjunction with a sidewalk that already exists where passersby can enjoy the gardens and flowing flower beds. 

The project grew its roots with the Cornerstone Neighborhood Association, who applied for grants through the Greening of Detroit for the trees planted Saturday. The Greening secured funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Hay said. 

Officials were happy with the volunteer turnout Saturday and many trees were upright within the first hour of digging. Volunteers came from throughout the metro Detroit area, some are regular Greening of Detroit volunteers, some are area residents while others did it as a service project for school or their employer.