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Prospect forestation board selects trees for ArborFest and canopy program, plans fall events
Summary
The Prospect Forestation Board agreed on a shortlist of species for this fall's ArborFest tree sale and the city canopy program, discussed ordering quantities and outreach, and weighed event scheduling with the library book sale and Kids Fest.
The Prospect Forestation Board on Aug. 14 finalized a recommended list of species for its ArborFest tree sale and discussed details for the city's canopy program and event scheduling.
Board members agreed to target roughly 50 trees for the ArborFest sale (about 10 of five selected varieties) and to continue the Canopy program that offers larger, professionally planted trees to residents. Andrea, a Forestation Board member, said, "I think maybe looking at, you know, 50 trees this year and, you know, maybe we pick 5 different trees and offer 10 of each." The board asked staff to place the nursery order as soon as availability is confirmed.
The board's preferred ArborFest selections, subject to nursery availability, are: a Princeton elm, a white oak, a spring-grove or Kousa dogwood (fallback to Coosa dogwood), Bracken's Brown magnolia (with Little Gem or Moonglow as alternates if unavailable), and a red maple cultivar (October Glory or Brandywine). Andrea summarized the group's choices and said nursery availability will determine final substitution choices. For the canopy program, members highlighted specimen-level selections already planted or under consideration, including a green vase Zelkova, a swamp white oak and a Robin Hill serviceberry.
Board members discussed outreach and participation: Mandy Paul, a newly installed board member, described her experience with the canopy program and encouraged neighbor-to-neighbor promotion, saying, "It's fantastic. We've taken out 4, maybe 5 Bradford pears on our property...the trees are doing great." Members raised the idea of allowing residents to buy two canopy trees if demand is low, and staff confirmed the city would be comfortable with that.
Logistics and event timing were a practical focus. The board proposed pairing ArborFest with the library's fall book sale on the weekend of Oct. 18'19, with ArborFest on Saturday and Kids Fest on Sunday, but agreed to consult stakeholders (library staff, the parks department and event organizers) before making a final scheduling decision. The board also discussed volunteer coordination, ordering lead time and the fact that selected ArborFest items will be mostly 3-gallon/young trees while canopy trees are larger, professionally planted specimens.
The board noted the council provided additional funding earlier in the year to expand tree availability after storms but that not all previously budgeted trees were claimed. Members asked staff to confirm exact counts, finalize the order, and publicize the program to increase participation.
The meeting closed with agreement on next steps: staff will confirm nursery availability and costs, the board will finalize a five-tree roster for ArborFest with alternates, and outreach materials (including a draft neighbor letter) will be prepared for distribution.
The board adjourned by unanimous motion at the meeting's close.
