Tree board presses for early involvement after city’s Horizon View replanting plan surfaces

Members of the Lake Forest Park Tree Board raised concerns that a large-scale replanting plan tied to a roundabout mitigation project at Horizon View Park moved forward without earlier opportunity for board input.

Richard Saunders presented a map and described areas along the park edge where invasive hawthorns and other species could be removed and replaced with native or ornamental trees. He urged the board to coordinate with city staff so plantings could reflect canopy goals and community use of the park.

Sam Call, the urban forest planner, said much of the roundabout-related planting and associated permits were already in motion when he joined the city. “If this plan contains more of a removal and then replacing in those locations… there would be no competition for what's going to be replanted to match the canopy coverage replacement that's needed,” Call said, adding he would review the approved planting plan and circulate documentation.

Several board members asked that future large-scale city planting projects include earlier notice and opportunities for Tree Board input so the board could advise on species selection, community engagement and volunteer opportunities. Council liaison Larry Goldman said he would look into why Horizon View was chosen as an off-site replanting location and referenced a council-approved off-site replanting zones map from October 2023.

Board members suggested small-scale community planting events remain feasible for the board while acknowledging transit corridor-level plantings may be executed by contractors; they asked staff to share project maps and permitting documents ahead of the next meeting.