GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—  "Friends of Grand Rapids Parks" is getting reading to plant a new green space for Grand Rapids, made possible by 17 area breweries.

The ceremonial planting of Brewers Grove will take place October 17 at Riverside Park.  The event will also include a beer-inspired movie showing inside the park at dusk.  Visitors will be allowed to bring growlers.

Brewers Grove is being funded by tree beer sales.  Each participating brewery created their own version of tree beer.  The fundraiser began August 5, with many breweries donating $1 from each pint sold to the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks' Urban Forest Project.  Other participating breweries created events and promotions for the fundraising campaign.

Participating breweries include:

Applications are being accepted for the Go Green Youth Challenge tree planting grants.

Children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to participate.  Participants are challenged to collect change individually, with their class or with a club each spring.  The change will go toward community tree plantings by the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance, as well as program outreach efforts.  The team that raises the most for the Go Green Youth Challenge will be awarded with a tree planning in their community.  They also get an invitation to the state Arbor Day celebration in April at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.

Local governments, public educational institutions, public libraries, non-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, churches and tribal governments can also apply for a Go Green youth Challenge tree planting grant by visiting this websit

JENISON, Mich.—The new Jenison Performing Arts Center will feature some eco-friendly insulation, thanks to Pinewood Elementary Students and Jenison based Nu-Wool Co.

For the past five years, students at Pinewood have been collecting used phone books to learn about recycling and the positive impact it can have on the environment.  This year, classes collected more than 9,000 pounds of phone books.

The recycled phone books were previously used by Nu-Wool to create eco-friendly cellulose insulation used in Habitat for Humanity homes.  However this year, Nu-Wool and its sister company are making cellulose batts from the phone books, which will be installed in the Performing Arts Center’s sound absorbing “clouds”, which will be suspended from the ceiling.  The cellulose batts will also be used in the facility’s office walls.