Two Kate Gould Park Trees May Be Saved; Third Will Be Removed After Hearing

CHATHAM – Two of three Kate Gould Park trees targeted for removal may be saved.

 At a hearing last week held by Tree Warden Tom Barr, a number of people objected to the cutting down of two of the three trees, suggesting that they could be saved through better maintenance and care. 

 A large Norway maple near the Main Street entrance to the park, however, is in poor condition and will be removed.

 “As recently as Halloween we had a branch fall right into the walkway,” Barr said of the tree, which also has fungal issues and advanced decay, according to a report by Bartlett Tree Experts, and thus poses a safety threat.

 But the other two trees that were the subject of the Nov. 12 hearing, a linden and a honey locust, will get a reprieve of sorts. After the comments made at the hearing, Barr said he will consult with Bartlett and possibly reach out to a third party arborist to determine whether it would be efficacious to save the trees.

 Removal of the trees was proposed as part of a plan to upgrade the park located in the center of the downtown business district. The Bartlett report was commissioned by the chamber of commerce and merchants association’s beautification committee, which is spearheading the park restoration, and Chatham Friends of Trees. According to the Bartlett report, the park contains a total of 92 trees spread among 30 species.

 According to the report, the linden is in fair condition and suffers from co-dominant stems, root girdling, storm damage, topping cuts and wound rot. The honey locust was determined to be in good condition but has problems with soil care, root girdling, dead branches and an uneven crown.

 Barlett recommended six other trees for removal, all of which are in poor or fair condition. Some are dead. Barr said as tree warden, he can have those trees removed without a public hearing.

 Craig Schneeberger of Bartlett Tree Service said many of the trees’ issues are the result of improper pruning and cutting, as well as the packed soil near the park’s entrance. Some dead branches pose safety hazards, he added.

 Dan Young of Chatham Friends of Trees said the Norway maple should be removed. “It is a safety hazard, no question about it,” he said. But the linden and honey locust trees could be saved with proper maintenance and care.

“These are mature trees that, when removed, will take decades for any replacement trees and the associated benefits they bring to be achieved,” he said. He also urged that the three trees be seen in context of the town’s total tree canopy, noting that many trees have been taken down in recent years. Before more are removed, the town should develop a detailed replacement and mitigation plan, he said. 

Park and Recreation Commission Chair Meredith Fry agreed with Young regarding trying to save the linden and honey locust trees.

“The commission doesn’t want to take down any tree that isn’t a liability or dangerous,” she said. “I’m all for keeping trees, especially beautiful old ones, in the park, if we can maintain them properly.” She also agreed that the maple is a safety concern and should be removed.

Barr said he will meet with staff from Bartlett’s to discuss the issues raised at the hearing and may also reach out to a third party arborist for an opinion. If the determination remains to remove the linden and honey locust, another hearing will be held; if it is decided that the trees can be saved, he will report that to the select board.