City Trees

What is one of your biggest challenges? SC: One of our most pressing challenges today is to achieve appropriate species selection and diversity while promoting proper site design. Upper Arlington was built mostly in the mid-20 th century and reflects the planning and design practices of that era. The process of retrofitting the community with 21 st century infrastructure and amenities can necessi- tate difficult decisions but also offers wonderful opportunities. Redesigning streets to accommodate bike traffic, adding sidewalks in mature neighbor- hoods where none have existed, creating walkable commercial districts, or constructing shared-use pathways without the advantage of public riparian greenways or abandoned railroad tracks is chal- lenging. The process can be demanding, but the results are gratifying and popular with residents. What are some of the pleasures of your position? SC: Working in the same community for 30 years offers a perspective that few have the chance to enjoy. I can still remember my early days when many of our arterial streets were completely treeless. Most are residential in nature, but they were not the most hospitable spaces, with four lanes of traffic whiz- zing past and no buffer or canopy. Now almost all are well canopied, and the difference is palpable. I am also really pleased with the sidewalk inspection and enforcement program in Upper Arlington. How many city foresters can say that? Our code requires the City to inspect sidewalks every five years to make sure they are in safe condition. In general, residents must pay for repairs. However, 17 years ago the City took responsibility for repairing sidewalks damaged by street tree roots to eliminate a significant dis- incentive for residents to support and appreciate street trees. Forestry subsequently managed a complaint-based sidewalk spot-repair program. More recently, the City proactively inspects all side- walks on a five-year cycle in partnership with the City Engineer's Office. City Engineer Jackie Thiel's budget funds the program. However, the inspections are performed by Forestry Supervisor Samantha Simmons, who also manages the notifications, the contracted repair work done for the City (when roots are involved), and the contracted repair work done by the City for (and at the expense of) residents. This enables Sam (an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist) to evaluate each repair, to employ creative best practices around trees, and to work directly with the contractor to ensure that all work done in proximity to street trees is done appropriately. The process has been remarkably effective while causing remarkably little controversy or acrimony. What are your diversity guidelines or goals? SC: We lean towards the 10-20-30 guideline on biodiversity, but the compact planting spaces we inherited in many neighborhoods restrict our use of larger native species. Our historic district is the exception, with some fabulously wide tree lawns. We are always on the lookout for new cultivars that seem promising. My favorites include baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), and Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus), but in smaller spaces we use numerous crabap- ples (Malus), tree lilacs (Syringa reticulata), and hybrid maples (Acer). I'd like to use more parrotia (Parrotia persica), and Sam keeps planting Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) whenever my back is turned. What are some technologies you employ? SC: We recently performed an urban tree canopy analysis, and we're at 35% now. Given that we've just lost most of our ashes and that we have two large golf courses in town, that's not bad, but we plan to get to 40% over time. We have had a street tree inventory since 1990, and it's now a layer on the City's GIS. Data is updated on a three-year cycle by our inventory specialist Matt Stewart. We generate work orders and contracts from the inventory, so accuracy is important. We have also specified structural soils in the right- of-way for some of our recent commercial projects. Upper Arlington was built without a true down- town, so we are slowly recreating most of our limited commercial districts into more walkable, mixed-use areas. I know planting grates come with some issues, but I was actually excited to see our first "urban" streetscapes built with grates a few >> www.urban-forestry.com 27

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