We pay to remove park trees.
Marking and Notification
We will mark park trees we need to remove as follows:
Green Paint Ring
The tree has Emerald Ash Borer and will remain marked for five days. After five days, we will remove the tree as soon as possible.
Green Paint X
We will remove the non-symptomatic tree as part of the canopy replacement plan for ash trees.
Green Ribbon
The tree is not currently scheduled for removal. We wrap non-symptomatic public ash trees with informational ribbons to raise awareness for the canopy replacement plan for ash trees.
We only use green to mark ash trees.
Orange Paint Ring
The tree has Dutch Elm Disease and will remain marked for five days. After five days, we will remove the tree as soon as possible.
Orange Paint X
We will remove the tree for another reason. For example, it is dead or dying.
We make the final decision about boulevard tree removal, but will do our best to answer any questions you have.
Tree Stump Removal
We hire private companies to grind stumps because it is more cost effective. They grind the stump below the surrounding soil or deeper if we need to plant a new tree in the same spot.
We first grind stumps in locations where we need to plant new trees (referred to as “deep grinds”). Then, we remove stumps on a street-by-street basis (“regular grinds”). We may remove a stump the same year the tree was cut down, or the next year.
The budgeted funds available determine how many stumps we can grind and when. We may not have the resources to remove every tree stump each year.
Removal in Woodland Areas (Natural Areas)
We do not remove trees from woodland areas unless they are dangerous or diseased. If a tree has the potential to fall, or is located where it could cause harm to people or property, we will remove it. For example, a tree near a path could be dangerous, but a tree in the middle of a natural area away from paths or roads is not dangerous.
If there is a fallen tree wedged between other trees or resting on a weak branch, we may need to make it safe. We will not remove the tree from the site, but will rest it safely on the ground. The tree will naturally decompose and will not damage nearby trees.
We may remove diseased trees from natural areas to protect the trees around them.