Resident Brings New Trees to Roxbury Park

Kandi Arries loves , but a few months ago she started to think that something was missing.

The St. Louis Park resident, who lives near the park and often goes there with her dog, had been hearing the same complaint from a number of neighbors—Roxbury doesn’t have enough shade. So Arries took it on herself to change that, contacting Lenox Neighborhood Association President Matt Flory about getting some neighborhood grant funds for new trees.

In late June, an Elm tree, a Kentucky coffee tree and a Hackberry tree were planted in Roxbury Park.

“People were happy,” Arries said. “I got a few high-fives out of this.”

Arries said she and her son regularly go check on and water the three trees, which she has named Lenny, Tucker C. Park and Roxy H. Berry. They reside in a row near the playground, and Arries said she is excited to see them grow and develop over the years.

Arries said she also might work on other park improvement projects in the future, though she doesn’t have any definitive ideas right now.

“We spend a lot of time in the park,” Arries said. “It becomes a part of your life.”