Mill Creek Gets $5K from Boardman Subaru to Stay Green

Boardman Subaru on Friday presented a $5,000 check to Mill Creek MetroParks at the newly opened Ford Nature Center for reforestation efforts.

The donation came from a larger endeavor called the Subaru Love Promise. April was designated as Subaru Loves the Earth, and dealerships were able to pick an initiative that would work toward reducing waste, safeguarding resources and preserving natural spaces.

Boardman Subaru and Mill Creek MetroParks created the Keep Mill Creek Green program, which is dedicated to planting a tree for every $25 donated. Boardman Subaru donated $25 for every car sold during the month of April – a total of about 200 cars sold.

“We feel it’s a good fit for us, especially with my connection and our company’s connection to Mill Creek Park,” said Rob Fellman, owner of Boardman Subaru. “I’ve lived here most of my life. I’ve used this park … and I’m just proud to be partnered up with them.”

This is the second year of the partnership between the dealership and the park – resulting in $8,500 donated. Aaron Young, executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks, said the program is still relatively new but the park hopes to create more partnerships to keep up reforestation efforts.

“As you know – Father Time. Trees live and trees die. This helps us keep the park green and plant more trees,” Young said. “We’re anxious to continue [Boardman Subaru’s partnership] and get more companies involved.”

This year’s donation will be used to plant 100 new trees at Mill Creek’s Collier Preserve, which is located on Western Reserve Road.

The park and the dealership are partnered with Youngstown State University ecology students, who pick trees that are native to the area and will survive best. The students then assist in planting the trees.

Boardman Subaru has been designated as a Certified Eco-Friendly Retailer since 2016. The dealership is also partnered with TerraCycle, a company that collects and recycles items that are difficult to recycle.

“We try to observe and keep our footprint as low as we can because we love the Earth,” Fellman said.

Read the original article at The Business Journal.