The Warren Town Council approved a plan Wednesday to create an arboretum in the infield of Burr's Hill Park, voting to accept a private donation for planting costs, schedule a dedication to the late Bob Avila and begin a volunteer-driven planting effort.

The council approved the proposal after presentations by Robin Avila, who offered to sponsor the trees through her father’s foundation, and by Chuck Staten, head of the town’s tree commission, who outlined planting and long-term care plans. “It’s a dream come true to create an arboretum,” Robin Avila told the council, adding that plantings would begin in October where seasonal root growth increases establishment success.

The vote formalizes a plan to plant roughly 30 trees across the ballfield infield, spaced about 40 feet apart, with a combination of canopy and specimen species recommended by the tree commission. The council also agreed to place the item on next week’s agenda for a formal dedication to Bob Avila; council members voted verbally in favor during the meeting.

Why it matters: The project aims to add shade, reduce heat in a heavily used town park and provide a tree collection for public enjoyment and education. Supporters said the trees will improve comfort for park users, support local biodiversity and create a lasting town asset. The proposal drew both support and questions from residents about play-space loss, ongoing maintenance and deer protection measures.

Key decisions and next steps
- Donation and budget: Robin Avila indicated her father’s foundation had offered to sponsor the work and that about $30,000 would be acceptable to cover the initial planting. That funding commitment was reported during the meeting by a council member and by project supporters.
- Planting timeline and methods: Speakers said planting is scheduled to begin in mid-October and that trees will be planted 40 feet apart where feasible. The tree commission plans a spray-paint overlay on the field to mark proposed trunks and mature canopy circles before excavation and planting.
- Maintenance and watering: The tree commission and volunteers proposed a combination of town water access (a spigot at the park), volunteer “adopt-a-tree” watering, use of barrels or larger slow-release containers instead of smaller tree gators, staking, trunk wraps to deter rodents and periodic mulching. “Water’s the key to life,” the tree commission head said when describing watering and mulching plans.
- Site adjustments and safety: The council voted to remove the chain-link backstop located in the infield area; members moved and seconded that action during the meeting and approved it by voice vote, but the council noted the legal authority for immediate removal would be confirmed with town counsel. A council member said DPW would be asked to remove the backstop within about two weeks if legally permissible.

Public concerns and responses
Several residents asked how the plantings would affect children’s use of the park, sledding and community events. A town resident noted Burr's Hill is heavily used by children and raised concerns about restricting open play space; council and parks staff responded the plan leaves the outfield and large open areas available for play and events and confines trees to the infield and perimeter areas to create shaded seating without eliminating usable field space. Parks staff also said the rec board reviewed and approved the infield location but had raised concerns about specific locations such as sledding runs and the home-run fence.

Speakers also urged concrete maintenance plans. The parks and tree-commission presenters described a volunteer planting day, the possibility of town crews assisting with heavy lifts, and long-term watering responsibilities shared between DPW and volunteers. The tree-commission head said tree trunks will be wrapped where necessary to deter rodents and that stakes and mulch rings will protect trunks from weed whackers.

Other project details
The tree plan identifies multiple native and specimen species the commission recommended for different park locations, including red maple at the park entrance, willows near the waterfront, sugar and red maple behind the stadium steps and a mix of oaks and other species chosen for long-term resilience. Presenters said species selection would be refined after soil checks and final layout mapping. The council and volunteers discussed benches and memorial plaques as possible future additions near tree plantings; the state-donated red maple for the town is expected in April and the memorial sign funding is pending a separate grant application.

Votes and formal actions
- Motion to proceed with planting the infield trees and accept the donor support: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote (all in favor). The council recorded the intent to dedicate the arboretum to Bob Avila at an upcoming meeting.
- Motion to remove the chain-link backstop in the planting area: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote with a staff note that town counsel will confirm authority for removal.

What’s next: Project volunteers, tree commission members and parks staff will create a marked layout on the field with spray paint showing trunk locations and mature canopy circles, finalize species and soil amendments after testing, coordinate DPW removal of the backstop if legally cleared, and schedule a community planting day in fall. The council indicated the town will track watering and maintenance responsibilities and incorporate the project into future parks budgets as needed.