PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Construction has begun on the Philadelphia Reforestation Hub, a new lumber yard in Fairmount Park, where fallen trees will be recycled, new trees will be planted and jobs will be created.
It will have a fully operational sawmill that will turn fallen city trees into lumber, which will be sold on the open market to artisans, furniture makers and others. Proceeds will go to Tree Philly to plant and maintain trees throughout the city.
“In this case money does grow on trees,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, the commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, on a hard hat tour of the facility.
The department has partnered with Power Corp PHL, a workforce development program. Young adults will be hired and trained for the operation.
Power Corp PHL Project Manager Carlos Alvarez will oversee the initiative.
“Our biggest goal is to engage young folks to provide quality training so that they can maybe find a way to support themselves and their families through environmental and sustainability careers,” Alvaraz said.
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Philadelphia’s Chief Administrative Officer Stephanie Tipton says approximately $275,000 was given to take the project to the next level.
“Part of the funding for this project came from a new pool of grants that we were able to offer through the Operations Transformation Fund.”
The U.S. Forest Service provided a $250,000 grant.
The lumber yard is slated to open in June on the grounds of the Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center, near the Strawberry Mansion Bridge in West Fairmount Park.