Normandy Park commissioners review City Hall tree options, plan recommendation for spring

At their April 15, 2026 meeting, the Normandy Park Parks Commission reviewed a list of candidate trees for the City Hall parking lot and agreed to prepare a recommendation for the mayor and council in coming weeks.

Staff presented photos and a spreadsheet of small, medium and large street-tree candidates and noted that the City Council approved the contract supporting the replacements at its meeting the night before. "You don't have to decide this now," staff said, adding that the trees will not be planted until fall and the commission therefore has time to select species and combinations.

Commissioners discussed specific species and trade-offs: saucer magnolia and flowering cherries for spring bloom; ginkgo for vertical form, with a staff note that only male ginkgos should be planted; vine and Japanese maples for fall color; and larger trees such as Gary oak for long-term form. Members raised concerns about trees that produce heavy fruit or pods (sweet gum), thorny species (black locust), susceptibility to disease (some dogwoods) and conflicts with overhead power lines.

"We can go up to the large size, but they will get large," staff said while displaying site photos, urging commissioners to consider power lines and planting row composition. Commissioners suggested mixing varieties (for example, a large focal tree flanked by flowering dogwoods and maples) and asked staff to consult the city arborist on compatibility and long-term maintenance.

Next steps: staff will collect commissioners' preferences, verify availability with nurseries and ask the arborist for guidance on compatibility and disease resistance. The commission aims to finalize a recommendation at its May meeting (or by June if more time is needed) so planting can proceed in fall under the already-approved contract.

The discussion was procedural; no binding decision to plant a specific species was made during the meeting.