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Revived Tree Board focuses on U.S. 231 project replacements
With a goal of studying, investigating and counseling the community on the planting, removal or disposition of trees, the Greencastle Street Tree Board is back in business.
After its last meeting during the throes of Covid-19 on Nov. 18, 2020, the Tree Board has been reactivated and met for the first time in more than three years Wednesday at City Hall.
Vanessa Fox was elected chairman with City Council representative Vince Aguirre, Laura Stamper, Cathy Lowery and ex-officio member Jeffrey Hagfors of Duke Energy also being sworn in by Clerk-Treasurer Mikayla Johnson.
Also in attendance were City Planner Scott Zimmerman, Park Director Greg Ruark, Street Commissioner Andrew Rogers and Forest Hill Cemetery Supt. Jason Keeney.
Of primary interest were the trees along U.S. 231, several of which were removed to facilitate the upcoming INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) road reconstruction project that will also include a new water main and storm sewers through the heart of the city.
“Mayor (Lynda) Dunbar wants the Tree Board to very much be involved with the 231 project,” City Planner Zimmerman noted, pointing to a list of replacement trees that have been recommended for areas along North Jackson and Washington streets.
Those listed as preferred choices are amur maple, downy serviceberry, eastern redbud, thornless hawthorn, tartarian maple, kousa dogwood and hornabeam.
Conspicuous in their absence from that list are Bradford Pear and Callery Pear trees, varieties which were quite popular when planted around the square decades ago but have since been determined as undesirable, and in the case of the Bradford Pear, an invasive species.
The INDOT tree preferences, Zimmerman explained, were “based on closeness to the buildings and power lines.”
Duke’s Hagfors was also concerned about those issues. “I wanted to be involved,” he said, “so we’re not planting the wrong trees in the right of way.”
Meanwhile, Lowery, who worked at Progressive Printing along U.S. 231, just north of the square, expressed concern over planting trees that would get too tall or too full and impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
“At Progressive Printing we were always going out and picking up branches the semis knocked down going through,” she noted.
Hagfors also pointed out that three-inch diameter or greater trees planted in the INDOT right of way cannot be pruned between April 1 and Oct. 1 in deference to “protecting the bats that nest in them.”
Board Chairman Fox pointed to the work completed along South Locust Street in which redbud, serviceberry and hornabeam trees were planted. She complimented whoever made those choices, suggesting that they are good examples of possible replacements along 231.
While Stamper pointed out that blooming trees can create “a beautiful visual” for those driving into and through town, Councilman Aguirre suggested that perhaps less is more.
“I have heard from quite a few business owners who prefer the sight lines they have now,” he said, alluding to the lack of trees following their removal.
Business owner Rhonda Brotherton of Putnam Inn said she would just as soon not have trees replanted in front of her restaurant since the area is targeted for decorative lighting along there anyway.
“I absolutely love trees,” she said, noting that “I really don’t want them in front of Putnam Inn.”
Brotherton explained that her husband Chris has had to prune them often to provide better visibility for customers pulling out onto 231 or clearance for those entering through the front door off Jackson Street.
“Tall trees block my sun,” she added, while those with lower branches impede pedestrians, walkers and runners.
“Can we promise smaller trees in some blocks that don’t block signage?” Aguirre asked.
Noting that the Tree Board serves only an advisory capacity, Zimmerman said he would pass that suggestion on to Mayor Dunbar for consideration.
Zimmerman also suggested that any replanting refrain from focusing on one species.
That, he said, “can create problems with something like dutch elm disease, or if you plant all redbuds, you might get redbud blight and lose them all.”
DNR spokesman Jacob Roos, urban forestry director, admitted the state “got into a mess” planting the same trees up and down roadways.
“With elm trees, dutch elm disease came along and killed all the elm trees,” he said. “We said, ‘OK, let’s plant ash trees’ and then ash borer disease comes along and kills all the ash trees.”
Questions also arose about trees planted along Veterans Memorial Highway between Bloomington and Jackson streets.
Zimmerman said there is a waiting list for veterans to be recognized with a tree planted there because there is a limited amount of roadway and city right of way is only on the north side of the road. The opposite side is not only not city-owned property but has space reserved for expansion of People Pathways.
There also is a sewer right of way on that side, Keeney pointed out.
Fox wondered if there might be opportunities for veterans’ trees to be planted in Big Walnut Sports Park.
“I wouldn’t discourage that,” Park Director Ruark responded.
And the cemetery perhaps?
“Not with the plans we have in effect for now,” Keeney replied.
Aguirre suggested that the section on the state side of the roadway from Walmart Distribution to the sports park “is pretty barren” and could use some trees to provide shade for walkers, joggers, etc.
Questions also came about with that suggestion as Zimmerman asked, “Who maintains it? What problems might be created for mowing?”
Retired Soil and Water Conservation District official Jim Woody pointed out that an abundance of Bradford Pear and Callery Pear trees exist along Veterans Highway. Small enough ones can be removed with a forestry mower, he said, while bigger trees exist out front of NAPA and First Financial Bank and also behind Aldi.
“They’re highly invasive, please help,” Woody said.
The pear trees “grow very quickly and are not very sturdy,” Lowery pointed out.
Pear trees are prevalent along Veterans Highway, Woody said, including those planted as memorials along with “thousands of volunteer trees” that have grown up in the aftermath.
While it was suggested that those invasive species trees need to come down, Stamper said “we’re getting into another problem.”
“You’re talking about peoples’ memorial trees,” she said, noting how relatives have paid $50 or more to honor loved ones in that regard.
“It’s a good time to think about an education plan,” Zimmerman said, noting he would discuss it in-house with the mayor.
In other business, the Tree Board:
• Heard Zimmerman report that the Arbor Day Foundation has acknowledged Greencastle as a Tree City for 2023, making it at least 25 years that the city has been so designated.
• Heard Miriam Press of Buzzi Unicem and the Greencastle Sustainability Commission announce that an Earth Day tree giveaway is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20 at the Putnam County Museum on North Jackson Street. She said 7,300 trees have been ordered and will be given out in groups of five with a limit of 10. The small trees are all Indiana native species and are free to anyone interested in planting them within the borders of Indiana.
• Heard Street Commissioner Rogers note that crews have been trimming trees that extend over sidewalks in the city and have planted new trees at Mary Field Park next to City Hall.
• Heard Ruark report that a couple of large ash trees were removed from the area west of the ball diamond at Robe-Ann Park because of the construction project there. They will be replaced but not in the same location.
• Heard Keeney note that a number of trees were pruned at Forest Hill Cemetery to allow the street sweeper get through and more easily attend to the two miles of roadway within the cemetery. “Obviously Forest Hill Cemetery is loaded with trees,” he added.
While the Tree Board is set up to meet quarterly, board members agreed there is much work to do and should meet at least bimonthly. That means the next meeting is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 5.