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Sunbury wins Tree City USA growth award; resident offers to fund larger trees on The Square
Summary
Staff announced Sunbury’s Tree City USA designation and growth award and presented an inventory and planting recommendations for The Square; resident Barry Bennett offered to coordinate fundraising, volunteer labor and larger transplants, and the committee discussed mulch rings, compaction risks and donor recognition options.
Sunbury staff told the Parks and Recreation Committee on March 4 that the city has been awarded Tree City USA status for 2025 and received a growth award. Staff said this is the city’s 18th year as a Tree City and noted additional tree projects are already in planning.
Staff presented an existing-tree inventory and a recommended species list prepared by Aaron Oplet, showing where large, medium and small trees could be planted on The Square. The plan is an initial pass intended to guide future plantings while balancing event sightlines and open space.
Visitor Barry Bennett spoke to the committee offering to seek funding and volunteers to upsize tree plantings. "I will do my best to put whatever funding together is necessary beyond whatever the city wants to do," Bennett said, and he described local business interest and possible volunteer labor from scouts and school groups.
Bennett and staff also raised tree‑health concerns tied to soil compaction from vehicles at events. He recommended larger mulch rings to spread vehicle loads and to reduce root damage; he added that volunteers could re‑rake and replace mulch after events. "The tree root system extends all the way out to the tree's canopy," Bennett said, arguing that expanding mulch rings could lessen compaction effects.
Committee members described existing donation policy options for recognizing contributors (for example, a donor wall or plaques) and suggested a community foundation fund as a possible mechanism to accept and distribute donations for tree projects.
The committee discussed replacing a removed silver maple with a mature tree during this year's Arbor Day plantings and weighed trade‑offs of installing larger transplants (e.g., 5‑inch caliper) that cost more and require extra watering but provide quicker visual impact. Staff noted the city’s summer watering team could help with early care. The group agreed to continue refining the plan and follow up with a smaller working meeting to firm up logistics, financing and volunteer coordination.
