During the ‘Cherry Trees of the Blackstone’ dedication ceremony in front of M Residential at 555 Roosevelt Ave. in Central Falls, Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle holds up a ‘Cherry Tree Lane’ street sign which he presented to Masaru Tsuji, far right, who is Consul General of Japan in Boston, as, from left, Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau, Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and State Rep. Peter Killmartin (D-Pawtucket) applaud. It is reportedly the first planting of rancho cherry trees on a city street in America. Times photo/Butch Adams

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

CENTRAL FALLS — ”Can we call this 'A Tale of Two Cities?” asked Central Falls Public Words Director Joseph Nield, as he joined Pawtucket DPW Director Jack Carney in a ceremonial planting of one of 60 cherry trees that have been installed along Roosevelt Avenue on Friday.

Indeed, it was a special occasion for both communities. Several hundred people turned out in front of the M Residential condominium complex for a dedication ceremony to mark the planting of the trees that officials from both cities hope will spark an annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
This is the first phase of a multi-year plan to install over 120 blossoming cherry trees along Roosevelt Avenue between Charles Street in Central Falls to Exchange Street in Pawtucket.
The project came about through a public/private partnership with the seed money coming from local business leaders and civic organizations. Business partners Louis Yip and Sonny Ng donated $26,000 to purchase the first 60 trees. Daniel Sullivan, president and CEO of Collette Vacations, provided a $10,000 donation from the Alice Sullivan Foundation, The Pawtucket Foundation contributed $2,000, and other companies also contributed to the project.
The rancho cherry trees, a species native to Japan, China and Korea, are known for having beautiful flowers as well as the ability to thrive in city conditions, said Matthew Largess of Largess Forestry, Inc., the arborist in charge of the installation. He added that this is the first planting of rancho cherry trees on a city street in America.
Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau and Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle were on hand at the ceremony, along with Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Rep. Peter Kilmartin, Rep. Elizabeth Crowley, Attorney General Patrick Lynch and various other city officials from both communities.
As a special guest, Masaru Tsuji, Consul General of Japan, spoke at the inaugural event, explaining the history and importance of the cherry tree and its stunning blossoms to Japanese culture. He noted that it was in 1912 that Tokyo donated a gift of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, D.C. as a gesture of appreciation and friendship. These trees grew into the annual Cherry Blossom Festival that is immensely popular with visitors.
Tsuji said that the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossom is often referred to in Japanese songs, poems and stories. He said it is important “not to forget the nature that surrounds and embraces us.” He added that when the cherry trees bloom each spring, they serve as a reminder of how the beauty of nature “can ease our minds.”
Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau thanked Louis Yip and Sonny Ng for their partnership in the project and for having “great vision” for the Roosevelt Avenue corridor that cuts through both Central Falls and Pawtucket. “I look forward to the re-development of not just this street, but this city,” he stated.
Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle also thanked Yip, Ng, and the other local business leaders who contributed to the tree planting, as well as singling out the DPW workers from both cities who did the installation. He said the tree planting represents “one of the largest 'greening' initiatives in the state” and has served to generate much enthusiasm and excitement during the current bleak economy.
As a nod to the visiting General Consul from Japan, Doyle concluded his remarks by saying in Japanese: “Thank you all for coming and enjoy the blossoms.”
Congressman Patrick Kennedy, whose office is located on Roosevelt Avenue, noted that Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival draws millions of tourists each year and said that if the local community can attract a fraction of that amount, “this will be a source of great economic development for this region.”
State Rep. Peter Kilmartin noted that the planting initiative represents a successful merger between the “two wonderful cultures” that are the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls; while Rep. Elizabeth Crowley said that as the birthplace of the mill culture back in 1731, it is fitting that Roosevelt Avenue be chosen as the site of mill revitalization.
Bob Billington, president of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, noted that the Tourism Council and The Pawtucket Foundation will join the Pawtucket and Central Falls administrations in heading up the cherry tree planting initiative. He announced that a fund raising program involving the sale of memorial bricks that will be used as paving stones on Roosevelt Avenue will help ensure the future of the project.
Flanking the podium were large helium balloons shaped like cherry blossoms, of the same type that are flown in the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival. Those assembled were invited for a short stroll to plant a tree at the city line, followed by a complimentary lunch at the M Residential condominium complex that was hosted by Yip and Ng's Pui-O Construction company.