From time to time the Forestry Department will remove infested, diseased, or risky trees from the parkway and public lands. Removing a tree is always a sensitive topic, but the primary reason for removing any tree is the tree poses a safety or health risk to residents and/or other trees.
Tree Risk Assessments
When a tree on the parkway is considered unhealthy or a risk by a resident or identified as such during our cyclic tree trimming program, the forester will conduct an evaluation to determine the amount of decay on the defective portion of the tree.
The rule of thumb applied is for every one inch of decay, the tree must have two inches of sound wood to support tree structure. If the tree is deemed to be a public safety hazard, the forester will remove the tree or contract service, depending on the size and scope of work to be performed. The Forester is qualified by the International Society of Arboriculture.