Joyce Cully of Renfrew waters the recently planted tree saplings Monday in Preston Park as Carl Rose of Meridian attaches ties to the post for the fence.

The Rotary Club of Butler A.M. added a new tree for each of its 47 members at Preston Park Monday evening.

About a dozen of the club's members arrived shortly before park hours ended to prepare a patch behind the frame garage building.

The 47 saplings, which include Pin Oak, Flowering Dogwood, Red Maple, Norway Spruce and Serviceberry Shrub species, will grow in the patch until they are big enough to be transplanted to a more permanent place in the park.

Lisa Campbell, club president, said there may be more than enough trees to fill the park's needs.

“If there's any left over, we'll put them anywhere that needs trees,” she said.

Campbell said the project was part of an international initiative.

Ian Riseley, Rotary International president, started the initiative.

“Sustainability should be in everything that Rotary does. We need to recognize our responsibility to the planet on which we live,” Riseley said in a news release. “The time is long past when environmental sustainability can be dismissed as not Rotary's concern. It is, and must be, everyone's concern.”

Campbell said the club also has more local aims. She said the club's primary focus has been on youth initiatives, like addressing childhood autism and supporting the Backpack program, which provides food to children in need.

“We are volunteers who get involved in our community,” Campbell said.