TD Tree Days at Finlay Park
On December 4, volunteers from Columbia Green and TD Bank gathered at Finlay Park to assist City of Columbia park rangers planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses to celebrate TD Tree Days one day before South Carolina’s Arbor Day.
City Parks and Recreations rangers led by Karen Kustafik, along with TD Bank employees and Columbia Green volunteers, planted 20 trees and 50 shrubs to provide beauty and erosion control on a steep slope at Finlay Park. The event was originally scheduled for October 21 but was delayed because Finlay Park’s renovation wasn’t completed.
In October, TD Bank had selected Columbia Green to receive a 2025 TD Tree Days grant to help support local tree planting efforts. TD Tree Days, the bank’s flagship volunteer program, is dedicated to enhancing outdoor spaces through community planting events. These annual events are implemented in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and local planting organizations.
The morning of Arbor Day Eve was sunny but cold. A small group of eager volunteers gathered at the top section of Finlay Park to work vigorously to plant trees and also generate some body heat to stay warm amidst cold temperatures.
John Katz, program manager for Finlay Park, opened the event with a few remarks, saying, “The Finlay Park construction project took two years, but actually the design was a ten-year process. Long before we knew this could be a reality, head landscape architect Todd Martin was working on this project. It’s been a true labor of love and a passion for a lot of people. We’ve had a great experience in teamwork from across the city.
“These events don’t happen without having a community. It’s great because you guys can walk around the park and say, ‘I made that happen.’ There’s a sense of pride in that. Finlay Park is about bringing people together, generations of people. It’s a great asset.”
Karen Swank Kustafik, the city’s assistant superintendent for Parks and Recreation, put down her shovel long enough to answer a few questions about the trees and herself.
“All the trees being planted are native, including Service Berries, Tulip Trees, Nuttall Oaks, and American Redbuds,” she said.
She explained the native grasses being planted adjacent to the playground slides will not only provide erosion control but will offer a tangible experience for children who can tickle the tops of the grasses with their fingers as they go down the slide. Native shrubs and plants along the top of the parking area will provide seasonal color as well as food and habitat for native birds and insects.
Karen has worked with the city for 25 years. Originally from southeast Pennsylvania in Lebanon County, she said she came south and started working with stormwater management. Always attracted to the outside world, she got involved with kayaking as an instructor and became an advocate for the outdoors.
“Can’t help but be an advocate when white watering,” she said.
When asked to name the most important thing that should be in this story, Karen said, “The way many groups came together to make this happen. Columbia Green is our long-time partner, and TD Bank is just great about giving their employees time to participate in these events.”
Jason Laughlin, one of the volunteer tree planters, said he has spent the last 20 years working for TD Bank in data quality. He was born in the South Carolina Upstate and came to USC for college in 2001 and never left. Jason said his mom taught him the importance of giving back.
“No matter what you have someone always has less than you,” Laughlin said. “Really excited about helping at Finlay Park. My office is across the street and I’ve watched it change over the years.” In addition to planting trees for TD Bank, he supports Families Helping Families.
Since launching the program in 2011, over 22,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted with the help of over 9,000 TD volunteers from across the bank’s U.S. footprint. The program brings TD colleagues, their families, and local organizations together for planting events to help revitalize green spaces, especially in areas with limited tree cover. This year, approximately 1,900 more trees and shrubs will be planted in partnership with Columbia Green and 19 other organizations who were also awarded TD Tree Days grants.
“Access to green spaces is essential to the health and well-being of our communities,” said Paige Carlson-Heim, head of social impact at TD Bank. “Through TD Tree Days, we’re proud to work with local organizations, like Columbia Green, to enhance outdoor spaces that connect neighbors, improve air quality, and support the community of Columbia. We’re grateful to our volunteers, colleagues, the Arbor Day Foundation, and local planting organizations, like Columbia Green, whose commitment to our 14th annual planting events helps revitalize these green spaces for our communities from Maine to Florida.”
In addition to Columbia, TD Tree Days events are scheduled in these communities this award cycle: Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; Tampa, FL; Westbrook, ME; Boston, MA; Springfield, MA; Detroit, MI; Hudson, NH; Pennsauken, NJ; Tenafly, NJ; Bronx, NY; New York, NY; Asheville, NC; Candler, NC; Charlotte, NC; Philadelphia, PA; Greenville, SC; and Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Young, executive director of Columbia Green, said, “We are excited to receive our second TD Tree Day grant in two years. Their mission aligns perfectly with ours as we seek to protect and repair our urban forest by planting trees on public and private land across greater Columbia. Coming together with our partners at City Parks and Recreation and our friends at TD Bank demonstrates our shared commitment to this generation and future generations to green and beautify our urban landscape.”
Founded in 1984, Columbia Green is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Columbia and serves the greater Columbia area which encompasses both Richland and Lexington counties. Its mission is to improve and protect the natural beauty of greater Columbia by promoting sustainable plantings, preserving trees and green-spaces, and educating the public about the environment.
For more information, visit www.columbiagreen.org, arborday.org, and www.tdtreedays.com/en-us.
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