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Commission outlines successional plan after emerald ash borer removes trees at Newton Square Park
Summary
Commissioners said six ash trees were removed and about 23 were treated for emerald ash borer at Newton Square; staff and commissioners described a planned successional planting pilot this fall and a mapping effort this summer to guide future plantings.
The Worcester Tree Commission discussed recent Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) impacts at Newton Square Park and described plans for successional replanting and a pilot mapping project.
Commissioners and staff reported that six ash trees were removed at Newton Square and about 23 trees on the site received treatment. Staff and commissioners characterized the treated trees as showing poor condition and said the treatment aims to prolong canopy cover while new trees are planted.
Commissioners said the removed trees and treated stockpoint to the park’s near-monoculture of ash, and that a deliberate replanting strategy this fall will aim to increase species diversity and resilience. Staff said crews had treated trees where feasible and removed the worst-affected specimens. The commission’s summer plan includes student-assisted mapping of the park and available infrastructure layers to inform a pilot successional planting plan that can be reviewed at the commission’s September meeting.
Commissioners emphasized that the EAB treatments are intended to ‘‘buy time’’ while the commission and staff plan and implement replacement plantings, and that pruning and further removals will be considered after leaf-drop and a field review. No ordinance action or formal budget appropriation was adopted at the meeting; the item was retained as old business for follow-up in the fall.
Next steps: staff will inventory existing trees, review the treated trees’ condition, create a GIS-informed successional planting plan for Newton Square, and present a pilot planting strategy to the commission in September.
