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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ plants Tiny Forest as part of Project NePTWNE initiative

Published: 10/24/2025

Tiny Forest in progress on ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ's campus

Gannon University took another meaningful step toward environmental stewardship and community engagement Friday with the blessing and planting of its new Tiny Forest on the lot behind the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Greenhouse on the corner of West Third and Myrtle Streets.

The Tiny Forest is part of Project NePTWNE, the university’s initiative to improve water quality through Lake Erie measurements that inform mitigation and manufactured solutions to human-caused impacts leading to enhanced quality of life and a revitalized Erie economy.

Located on ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s downtown campus, the Tiny Forest features a dense and diverse planting of native species that mirror natural forest ecosystems but in a smaller, urban footprint. The forest will contain around 435 native trees.

These compact forests are designed to grow rapidly, enhance biodiversity, absorb stormwater and create natural habitats for pollinators and wildlife — all while providing educational and research opportunities for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ students and faculty.

“By creating the Tiny Forest, we’re not only restoring green space in the heart of our city, but also cultivating a living classroom where science, sustainability and community intersect,” said Sherri Mason, Ph.D., director of Project NePTWNE at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. “It is another example of how Project NePTWNE continues to bridge environmental research with hands-on learning and civic engagement.”

The planting event Friday included volunteers from the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ community and local partners, who will assist in establishing the forest’s foundation of trees, shrubs and ground cover. The project is supported by partnerships with the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF), the City of Erie, and the Ropski Family.

“A forest is an investment. It’s an investment in the future and that’s the most important thing,” said Fr. Michael Kesicki, University Chaplain, during the blessing on Friday. “We believe in the future of this land and we believe in the future of this community.”

The Tiny Forest joins a growing list of Project NePTWNE initiatives, including the newly opened Center for Lake Erie Education and Research (CLEER) at the Blasco Library and the new university campus rain garden, located at the corner of West Fourth and Sassafras Streets.