ForestR Pocket Parks
Artemis Park
Development Stage : Proposal | Planning | Design | Activation | Maintenance
Purpose
We are thrilled to announce that our charming town of Castro Valley has been chosen as one of the first locations to plant an Artemis Moon Tree in 2024.
After a meticulous selection process, NASA has selected our community for this prestigious honor. These unique seeds, which traveled around the Moon on the Artemis I mission in 2022, will find a new home right here in Castro Valley.
Amenities
Our very first piece of public art
A beautiful steel enclosure designed by local artist Eric Powell now surrounds our beloved baby giant sequoia, Lana ‘Luna’, and honors her with a tribute to the four phases of the moon—a celebration of growth, healing, and the light Luna brings to our community. You can see another of Eric’s installations just across the parking lot, the Tree of Knowledge adorning the Library’s entrance.
Slow-Watering Bags
Huge thanks to Forester Financial for sponsoring the watering bags at two of our parks! With the heat of summer and early fall, we’re testing out the effectiveness of slow-watering bags on keeping the trees near Lana Luna well watered.
In Partnership with the Castro Valley Library
Our local library will be creating an exciting line of programming centered around the Moon Tree. These programs will explore space travel, our connection to Earth, and the value of linking ecological initiatives with space exploration. Through these activities, we aim to inspire curiosity, foster a love for science, and highlight the importance of environmental stewardship.
We are proud to be a part of this incredible journey and look forward to the educational opportunities this Moon Tree will bring to Castro Valley.
Past Activity
June 22nd, 2025 – New slow-watering bags
May 21st, 2025 – Planting new sage plants
April 29th, 2025 – Our first piece of public art!
October 28th, 2024 – Unveiling Lana Luna
September 24th, 2024 – First cloning attempt with Lana Luna
September 20th, 2024 – We have water!
August 26th, 2024 – Sapling donations
June 2nd, 2024 – Moon Tree planting
June 2nd, 2024 – Moon Tree planting
June 2nd, 2024 – Moon Tree planting
Visit today at: 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Across the parking lot from the Library’s main entrance.
Artemis’s Origin
The Artemis Moon Tree program is an initiative by NASA to distribute tree seedlings that orbited the Moon, providing educational and environmental benefits to communities across the country. This program follows in the footsteps of the historic Apollo 14 Moon Trees, which were part of a similar effort over 50 years ago.
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services, NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement sent five species of tree seeds into lunar orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft. These seeds traveled thousands of miles beyond the Moon and spent about four weeks in space before returning to Earth. Now, they are being planted in selected communities, including ours, to inspire future generations and promote space exploration awareness.
We are proud to be a part of this incredible journey and look forward to the educational opportunities this Moon Tree will bring to Castro Valley. Stay tuned for more updates and details on the planting event!
