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City arborist addresses South Laval Parkway miscommunication; Alliance for Cape Fear Trees reports staffing and watering truck
Summary
City arborist Erin Reese said a staff miscommunication prompted an unplanned Facebook notice about tree work on South Laval Parkway, that crews met with neighbors and that a replanting plan and web materials are forthcoming; the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees said it hired a part-time staffer, acquired a watering truck and tends roughly 160'170 trees at school sites.
Erin Reese, city arborist in asset and property management, told the Wilmington Tree Commission on July 22 that a Facebook post and follow-up tree work on South Laval Parkway resulted from an internal miscommunication. "Just an honest mistake, on our side," Reese said, describing rapid outreach and a community meeting held the morning after the post to present details and answer questions.
Reese said crews took care to confirm species and clarified that no live oak trees were being removed in the work referenced in the post; she told commissioners the crew provided a replanting plan and that arborist materials and photos will be added to the city website to help residents distinguish live oaks from laurel oaks. "We do plan to work on that to get something added to the website," Reese said.
Reese also outlined near-term projects and capacity issues: a sizable project on South 3rd Street has received approvals from the Department of Transportation and the State Historic Preservation Office and awaits contractor scheduling; fall planting site lists are under internal review; and the city's tree-work backlog is roughly six to eight months. Reese said two field positions remain to be filled and that an assistant-arborist vacancy will be posted following an internal promotion.
Separately, Margie Herring of the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees reported that the nonprofit has expanded its capacity with a part-time staffer to support tree stewards, acquired a watering truck and is tending about 160'170 trees across local school sites including DC Virgo, Glow Academy and Dreams of Wilmington. The Alliance offered to coordinate with the city on planting and school outreach and said it can recommend subject-matter experts for the new ordinance committee.
What comes next: Reese said staff will finalize and share a replanting plan and web materials clarifying species differences, and will provide the commission with fall planting locations and scheduling information when available. The Alliance said it will continue volunteer watering and stewardship and can provide volunteers and expertise for commission outreach.
