The Rockford Park District’s City of Gardens program recently received three grants totaling $4,650 from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The grants will be used to support neighborhood groups’ reforestation efforts and to develop a community garden at Washington Park Community Center.

City of Gardens Program Director Ruth Miller said that City of Gardens will use the $2,500 grant to work with neighborhood groups on a reforestation effort to be held on April 24, 2009, and $500 will go towards a seedling giveaway event scheduled for April 25, 2009.

In addition to receiving grants to assist in reforestation efforts, City of Gardens also was awarded a $1,650 “Growing Strong – Community Gardening” grant which will be used to develop a neighborhood garden at Washington Park Community Center.