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Resident proposes Liberty elms for Maple Avenue; parks director says planting deferred to fall 2027
Summary
Sky Stevenson urged the committee to consider planting Liberty elms and other native species where red pines were removed on Maple Avenue. Parks and Recreation Director Caris Kenny said staff supports diverse replanting but will wait until fall 2027 to allow soils and current seedlings to recover.
Sky Stevenson of 14 Barrett Avenue asked the committee to consider replanting a mix of native, disease-resistant trees — including Liberty elms — after a recent red-pine harvest along Maple Avenue, noting local history and precedent for elms in city parks.
"It could be a time not just to leave things as they are... to plant some new seeds for the future," Stevenson said, suggesting community involvement and commemorative plantings for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Caris Kenny, Parks and Recreation Director, said the parks department supports planting a diverse native mix but recommended waiting until the fall of 2027 so the ground can recover and existing seedlings can establish. Kenny invited public involvement in invasive-species monitoring and said professional forestry partners will guide planting selection and timing.
Committee members welcomed public participation such as guided forest walks and requested staff post information on the city website about invasive species identification so volunteers can help with monitoring. The committee accepted the communication as informational.
