Garden City panel approves commemorative tree program, keeps ginkgo on species list

Garden City Parks and Recreation Commissioners on June 24 approved a commemorative tree program and a list of preapproved tree species, voting 8-0 to adopt the program and keep the ginkgo on the species list.

The decision formalizes two donation pathways: a city-managed, "hassle-free" package proposed at about $1,000 to cover an established-size tree, delivery and planting; and a lower-cost, donor-driven option in which a donor supplies the tree, pays a modest administrative fee, and agrees to post-plant care and city approval of species and placement.

Erica, Parks and Recreation director, presented the proposal and materials. She told commissioners she had circulated a species list and handout in advance and recommended keeping a broader set of primarily native trees available to donors. "I did email some information and gave you a handout," Erica said during the discussion. She warned that the department had removed the program from the website because donor costs and staff time had made the prior approach unsustainable.

Commissioners discussed the ginkgo, a nonnative species that can produce foul-smelling seeds from female trees. Some commissioners urged removing it from the approved list because buyers cannot always tell the tree's sex early on. Erica noted the list could require nurseries to supply male trees or allow case-by-case review; the body ultimately voted to retain ginkgo on the list while monitoring future donations. "So keep the ginkgo. Yep. Keep our eye on if that comes forward," a commissioner said after the vote.

On program costs and logistics, Erica said the city had recently paid about $900 to $1,000 for a sugar maple donated to a park and that a bronze plaque is costlier than the $200 figure previously advertised. She said the department proposes a roughly $1,000 full-service option that covers procurement, delivery and planting, and a lower-cost alternative in which donors supply the tree and pay a suggested administrative fee (discussed around $100) to cover staff review and placement approval. "The donor has to help us water for the first 2 years because... we don't have staff to do that," Erica said, describing the post-plant watering expectation for donors who choose the lower-cost route.

The commission also discussed planting standards and capacity constraints. Erica said the preferred planting stock is an established tree (about an inch-and-a-half trunk diameter) rather than a small sapling, and that staff capacity likely limits the program to a small number of plantings per year (she cited doing "2 per season" as a plausible capacity level). The commission directed staff to return with an addendum that would formalize exceptions, the donor-driven option, and recognition alternatives such as an online registry or a single physical recognition location with engraved "leaf" plaques.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the meeting agenda (June 24, 2025): approved, 8-0 (procedural). - Motion to approve minutes for April 29 and May 27, 2025: approved, 8-0 (procedural). - Motion to approve the list of preapproved tree species (as presented): approved, 8-0; the list will remain available on the city website. - Motion to adopt the commemorative tree program (program text as presented): approved, 8-0.

Discussion vs. decision Commissioners debated program details — species choices, plaque options, donor payment plans, and post-plant watering — before voting. The commission did not adopt a specific plaque method at this meeting; staff recommended several recognition options (on-site plaques under park signs, engraved leaves on a central recognition board, or online recognition) and was directed to research vendors and costs and return with a proposal. The earlier species-list vote addressed the ginkgo concern but did not change the program's approval.

Context and next steps Erica said staff will draft an addendum clarifying the donor-driven option, minimum tree size for acceptance (approximately 1.5-inch trunk diameter), administrative fees, and a watering commitment. She also recommended limits on the number of plantings per year based on staff capacity. Commissioners asked staff to research plaque vendors and recognition boards and to post the approved species list to the city's website. The commission asked that staff return with the proposed addendum and any recommended fee schedule at a subsequent meeting.

The program approval follows staff reports about Parks and Recreation projects, volunteer park workdays (Manor Park follow-up July 26; Kiwanis Park volunteer event this Saturday to place a large delivery of wood chips) and ongoing renovation work at the Radcliffe facility supported by ARPA and HUD reimbursements; those project updates were provided separately in the director report and were not part of the tree-program votes.

Ending Staff committed to preparing the addendum and vendor research for a future meeting and to posting the approved species list online so potential donors can review the program options and requirements.