Clifty Park, on the east side of Columbus, is one of the community’s many assets. It hosts athletics and community events, and is used for recreational purposes by adults and children.
It was good to see, then, a joint effort by two companies to spruce up the park and help a city department in the process.
Sixty volunteers — 45 from Duke Energy and 15 from Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing — worked together Oct. 28 to plant 50 new trees at Clifty Park, which the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department oversees.
The trees were located west of the playground, on the east side of the park’s southern section. Seven variety of trees native to the region were planted, including bald cypress, tulip poplar and oak. Crews also removed five dead trees that had fallen victim to emerald ash borer beetles.
That collaboration was impressive. So was the fact that Duke volunteers came from as far away as Lafayette and Vincennes to help.
Also appreciated was the $7,500 donation that Duke made to the Columbus Park Foundation.
Public-private partnerships such as this one are what have made Columbus thrive for decades, and are a model for stewardship of community resources and future success of projects and initiatives in the community.
Companies that participate in such partnerships are to be commended for recognizing the benefits of taking an active role in supporting a community in which they do business. Doing so serves the greater good, and everyone gains.
