Member Nybell motioned to approve the meeting minutes for March
12th, 2026. Member Sundy seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
BUSINESS
How to Increase Tree Plantings While Reducing Damage and Park Maintenance Time
- Richard Wieland
- The EDFC members stressed the importance of equity in their plantings
and expressed the desire to balance tree planting with responsible
spending. Parks was encouraged to design for improved maintenance.
- All areas, even low-maintenance areas, will require maintenance.
(Example: Mulch installed to deter mowers/reduce area requiring mowing
will still need yearly reapplication.)
- Parks has struggled with gradual encroachment of vegetative buffers
(overhang, etc.) onto mowing paths. Staff have concerns that the
eco-islands pitched by the Tree Town Urban Forest Team (TTUF) could
potentially eat into recreational space. Natural emergences of invasives
may occur, and Parks does not have the human power to attend to such
situations.
- Native groundcover would be an excellent solution, but long-term
commitments from Parks and from volunteers are the biggest obstacles.
Volunteer commitment is not always reliable and ranges from episodic to
consistent. Parks staff stressed that volunteering has costs attached to it
and requires staff guidance/management, and there are only two full-time
volunteer coordinators.
- Any planting projects in Parks must be reviewed by Parks. Larger
plantings need to be approved by the Parks Advisory Commission and
have a legal agreement in place with the participating volunteer group.
- Hillary Hanzel provided the following list of recent/upcoming Parks
projects that may need investment:
- Corner of Maiden Lane/Fuller Park B2B trail
- Gallup Park walking trail behind Children's Fishing Pond
- Landsdowne Park (trees were removed near the playscape, and a
resident has requested replacement)
- Buhr Park tree screening
