October 21, 2025 COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Parks Foundation (OSPF) celebrated the fall season with a tree planting, thanks to Dynegy, a retail supplier of electric service to residents of Ohio.
Dynegy representatives joined the Foundation on Tuesday, October 21 to plant ten swamp oak trees in the campground beach area at East Fork State Park in Batavia, Ohio. This special event highlighted Dynegy’s ongoing support in making Ohio’s state parks greener and more enjoyable for all visitors through their sponsorship of the Tree and Bench Donation Program.
“Support to the Ohio State Parks is an important part of our Commitment to Community program,” said Caroline Atkins, Community Affairs Manager for Dynegy. “We are proud to help Ohio communities become greener through the Ohio State Park Foundation’s Tree and Bench program.”
Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Mary Mertz expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are deeply grateful for Dynegy’s partnership and generosity. Their support helps our mission to ensure East Fork and all Ohio State Parks are full of trees that will be enjoyed for decades to come. New trees not only provide more shade, but they contribute to the overall health of our park ecosystem. Thank you, Dynegy, for making a lasting difference through the Ohio State Parks Foundation’s program.”
Donors who are interested in the program can indicate their park location preferences through the Foundation’s website at ohiostateparksfoundation.org. The Foundation will coordinate with the parks based on their availability and needs to identify a suitable location. All tree species will be native to Ohio and will be 1-2” caliper-sized, increasing their chances of survival. Benches are made of high-quality, 100% recycled material. “The components of the Tree and Bench Program are maintenance-free and last a long time, ensuring that the person being honored will be remembered for decades to come,” said Daris. An option for donating an ADA picnic table is also available.
“Planting a tree or donating a bench is a beautiful way to honor or memorialize a loved one,” Ohio State Parks Foundation Executive Director Lisa Daris said. “We launched our Tree and Bench program earlier this year, thanks to Dynegy’s support. Now, many people are honoring a loved one through planting a tree or adding a bench to a state park.”
To inquire about donating a tree or bench, go to www.ohiostateparksfoundation.org > Ways to Support Us
