COUNCIL BACKS CULTIVATION OF COMMEMORATIVE FOREST.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

On a trip to Israel many years ago, Jack Caine came across a commemorative forest where trees were planted to honor a loved one or in memory of an event.

Earlier this year he got to thinking about ways to beautify the city while increasing awareness of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club, of which he is president. And he remembered that forest, which he thought at the time was a marvelous idea.

Now he wants to start one in Thousand Oaks - and it appears he'll be getting some help from the city. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved allocating staff time to assist the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club in establishing just such a forest.

``It will be a place where people can go and plant a tree because their child did something great, or someone just passed away - for any reason, it doesn't matter,'' Caine said.

``At the same time it would make a pretty spot where maybe it's a bleak piece of acreage and where now it would have some pretty trees,'' he said.

The forest would also help promote the Rotary International, he said.

He brought the idea to Councilwoman Judy Lazar, who took the suggestion to devote staff time to the project to Tuesday's council meeting.

``I thought, gee, this could be a nice experience for a city that prides itself on the number of trees it has,'' Lazar said.

Several possible sites have been identified, mostly on Conejo Recreation and Parks District land, and the park board would have to give its approval before the proposal could move forward, she said.

Potential sites include a parcel on Sapra Street, Walnut open space, the Conejo Community Park/Botanic Garden, Potrero open space at Wendy Drive, Hillcrest open space at Hillcrest Drive, and a parcel at the Ventura Freeway/Moorpark Freeway interchange.

``Obviously, this is going to take some time,'' Lazar said. ``There was no objection, no discussion (at the council meeting), and I think everybody thought it would be an idea worth pursuing.''

Many questions still need to be answered before the idea can advance - among them costs associated with the project; whether potential sites have water and, if not, how water will be supplied; and who will maintain the commemorative forest, she said.

The project could involve several groups working cooperatively with the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club, she said. Other Rotaries in the area could become involved, she said, and local Boys Scouts of America groups have also expressed an interest in the project.

``It's another community opportunity that we're going to explore and see if we can make it work,'' Lazar said.

Caine said that it is too early yet to say when the commemorative forest would get started. ``We're just getting off the ground floor, but I have some high hopes and it's really very exciting,'' Caine said.