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Planning board approves removal of 46 trees for four Lowell park renovations
Summary
The Lowell Planning Board on April 7 approved requests to remove 46 trees across four city parks to allow renovation work tied to ARPA-funded projects; the board required replacement planting and asked staff to attempt to preserve recently planted trees where feasible.
The Lowell Planning Board on April 7 approved permits to remove 46 trees across four city parks so crews can complete planned renovations, a city design planner said.
Brianna Martinez, a design planner for the City of Lowell, told the board each park is part of the city’s ARPA-funded program and that the proposed work requires removing a small number of existing trees to complete grading and construction. She said the city will replant replacement trees and partner with Greening the Gateway Cities on new plantings.
The board’s action covers four separate public shade (tree removal) hearings that were presented together: one tree at North Common (413 Fletcher Street), eight trees at Father Maguire Park (80 Woodward Avenue), 17 trees at Saint Louis Park (406 West Sixth Street) and 20 trees at Clemente Park (803 Middlesex Street). Martinez said each park under this ARPA cycle will receive approximately $1 million in renovation funding.
Why it matters: the removals enable planned play-area, court and field upgrades, stormwater and grading work, and a new splash pad at Saint Louis Park. The city’s plan includes large-scale replanting: Martinez said the city will plant one new tree at North Common, eight at Father Maguire, 47 at Saint Louis Park and 50 at Clemente Park to offset removals.
Key board concerns and conditions
Board members asked where replacement trees would be sited and whether recently planted, small trees — some still staked and braced and planted through Greening the Gateway Cities — could be saved or relocated instead of removed. Martinez said some trees were planted without full coordination and that staff will explore whether any young trees can be moved. At Saint Louis Park, board members pressed for an explicit effort to preserve and repurpose younger trees along the VFW Highway if possible; the motion to approve included a request that staff make “every effort” to save or repurpose recently planted trees.
Specific items presented and board decisions
- North Common (413 Fletcher Street): staff requested a permit to remove one tree to allow regrading of the ball field. Martinez said the tree would be replaced roughly in the same location after construction. The board voted to approve that removal.
- Father Maguire Park (80 Woodward Avenue): staff requested removal of eight trees to allow tennis court reconstruction, re-striping and associated safety/use zones. Martinez said one marked tree near the playground is being held as contingency and is not planned to be removed unless further work requires it. The board approved the permit; Martinez confirmed the city intends to plant eight replacement trees.
- Saint Louis Park (406 West Sixth Street): staff requested removal of 17 trees to allow basketball and playground improvements and installation of a splash pad. Martinez said the project footprint and a grading plan require space to temporarily store excavated material, which is why a row of trees at the back of the park may be removed. The board voted to approve removal and added a condition urging staff and the contractor to examine options to save or relocate younger planted trees where practicable; Martinez said the plan calls for planting 47 new trees.
- Clemente Park (803 Middlesex Street): staff requested removal of 20 trees to accommodate volleyball, basketball, playground and event-space improvements; the city will plant 50 new trees. Martinez said construction is slated to start after the Khmer New Year event and finish in the same construction season, with an expected completion by November. The board approved the removal permit.
Public comment and timing
No members of the public spoke in favor of or in opposition to the tree removals at the four hearings. Board members asked several clarifying questions about timing, planting locations and coordination with partners; staff responded that planting plans and final layouts would be refined as construction documents progress.
What’s next
Board approval allows staff to proceed with required permitting and construction scheduling; Martinez said the city will coordinate final planting locations and work with Greening the Gateway Cities. The board also directed staff to attempt to identify and preserve recently planted small trees where feasible, particularly at Saint Louis Park.
