Dormont DIG Holds Tree Hugger FUNdraiser on Saturday

DIG Dormont has been working on the passive park on West Liberty Avenue, but "active" will be the key word for its Tree Hugger FUNdraiser on Saturday at .

The outdoor party, that will be moved indoors in case of rain, is offering "fun" for children from 5-7 p.m., including activities like making pine cone bird feeders, a bag toss game and getting their photos taken on a Bobcat (the heavy machinery kind, not an animal).

For adults, there will be a cornhole tournament and a deejay, among other offerings, from 7-9 p.m. at the restaurant.

"Mexi-Casa has been very supportive of DIG events," said Jim Kraus, DIG's founder.

This is the second year for the Tree Hugger event, which is specifically designed to raise money for trees throughout Dormont Borough. DIG also has two other fundraisers each year.

For each $10 donation to DIG Dormont, participants will receive a $5 donation toward a food purchase valid that evening only. The proceeds from the event will be used toward the purchase of eight trees for the passive park.

Although the trees were planted recently and there's been great progress with the development of the park, Kraus said that ultimately there will be about 15 more trees, ground cover, perennials and annuals adding to the landscaping.

"There's quite a bit more planting to be done," Kraus said. "We're about 25 percent through with where we want to park to be."

The passive park is at the corner of West Liberty and Hillsdale avenues, extending the length of the lot along West Liberty and about half way up Hillsdale.

"Of the entire parcel, half has been reserved for potential parking for ," Kraus said. "The park is actually intended to hide the parking lot."

Kraus said DIG's efforts complement the Dormont revitalization being undertaken by Allegheny Together, although the two groups don't work together.