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Commission places Bradford pear removals on next agenda after seasonal pause
Summary
Parks staff told commissioners the city paused Bradford pear removals during the Indiana bat mating season; removals will likely resume in fall with replacement plantings in spring 2027 and commissioners asked staff to research vetted local tree services and legal constraints before next meeting.
Commissioners discussed the community-driven effort to remove Bradford pear street trees and replace them with other species. Parks staff said removals are paused during the Indiana brown bat mating season and are expected to resume in the fall, with replacement planting likely in spring 2027 because the program will require bidding and coordination with nurseries.
"We are paused right now... because we don't remove trees, unless they're hazardous during... the Indiana brown bat's mating and popping season," parks staff said, explaining the pause is to protect a locally protected species. Commissioners discussed outreach strategies and suggested compiling a list of vetted tree-service providers for homeowners; several expressed caution about the commission recommending specific vendors because of potential conflicts of interest. The chair placed Bradford pear removal as a top item on next month’s agenda and asked staff to check the commission's mandate before recommending businesses.
