Commission discusses stressed plantings on nature trail, asks DPW to assist with watering and maintenance

A staff member reported that trees planted along the lakeside of the nature trail are showing signs of stress and dryness and recommended coordinating with the Department of Public Works to provide watering and maintenance.

The matter arose during an update on the nature trail; staff said they conducted a walk-through and observed some plantings with dry or brown leaves. "I did do a walk through last week where I did notice that some of the trees that were planted on the lakeside were dry," the staff member said. A commissioner had submitted photographs corroborating the observation.

Commissioners asked staff to contact DPW to arrange for a crew to water and try to salvage the plantings, and to investigate who will carry long-term maintenance responsibility for the trail plantings—contractor warranty, DPW, or a volunteer program. Staff said they would ask Justin and check whether the contractor would return to water young trees and whether DPW or volunteers might assume maintenance duties.

The commission also noted trail signage and amenities: members observed recently paved cemetery road connections, "no motor vehicle" signs at each end of the trail and dog-waste bag dispensers, and discussed the presence of e-bikes and scooters. No enforcement action or formal vote was taken; commissioners requested follow-up from staff and DPW and planned continued monitoring of the plantings.