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Commission progresses Tree Walk plan and historic-tree cataloging for Leesburg tour
Summary
Commissioners discussed the Tree Walk (historic-tree) project, inventory brochure and possible GIS/tour integration; they agreed to work with the town’s public information staff on a digital tour and to refine selections to highlight trees at historic sites.
The commission discussed progress on a Tree Walk that catalogs historic and notable trees in Leesburg, and reviewed outreach options including a printed brochure and integration with the town’s GIS-based online tours.
Commission members reported there are 22 trees in the current brochure inventory (one recently removed) and that the commission is coordinating with the town’s public-information staff to add a Tree Walk layer or tour to the town’s online "tour Leesburg" platform. Members discussed which trees to highlight, whether to emphasize specimen age or site-historic connections, and the practicalities of selecting replacement trees for the walk when existing specimens are small or recently planted.
The commission also discussed supplying larger 11x17 species fact-sheets and yard signs for events and cataloging planting dates, species information and historical context for each tree in the brochure. Staff said the town’s GIS manager could advise whether the interactive map can be updated by the public (crowdsourced updates), and commissioners suggested a process for documenting tree changes and verifying historic claims before updating the official tour.
Why it matters
The Tree Walk is both an educational tool and a heritage record: it highlights mature canopy assets, encourages stewardship, and provides an accessible route for residents and visitors to learn about notable trees and their historical settings.
Next steps
Staff will continue to work with public information and GIS staff to add the Tree Walk to the online tours system, finalize brochure copies, and follow up with local archives or photo collections for historic imagery where available.
