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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/30662
CITY OF SARASOTA ASSISTS TREES USING W.A.N.E. TREE SYSTEMS – ADVERTISEMENT – The City of Sarasota, Florida is well known as a premier venue for cultural events and a haven for the arts. It is deservedly recognized for its white sandy beaches and beautiful natural resources including its parks shaded by broad leafy trees that soften and mute the hardness of the concrete and asphalt jungle. Recent renovations to one of these park areas, Selby Five Points Park, necessitated the evaluation and management of the trees in the park’s vicinity. Selby Five Points Park lies within the Central Business District at the Western end of fashionable Main Street. The park is in a mixed use area where local residents and business workers use it for recre- ation and relaxation. The renovation of the park was financed by the Downtown Improvement District. In November of 2010, a total of 224 W.A.N.E. 3000 Tree Feeder systems were installed around the exterior portion of the park in the concrete/ paver surface. The holes for the units were bored using a core drill and the units, complete with covers, were installed to be flush with the paved surface so no trip hazard is presented. Some remedial and structural pruning was professionally executed on the tree canopies and the irrigation system to the trees was renovated and restored. Energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) decorative lighting was installed on the trees enhancing the aesthetic enjoyment for pedestrian traffic using the walkway in the evening hours. The result is that the renovated Selby Five Points Park is an extremely Selby Five Points Park: Before Renovation Features of the park renovation included the removal of a concrete retaining wall around the perimeter of the grassy knoll at the park’s cen- ter. The park includes a paved avenue of trees and tree-lined surround- ing sidewalks holding a total of twenty-six live oak (Quercus virginiana) trees. The planter spaces surrounding the trees were severely limited and many of the trees had roots growing into the grassy area. One of the results of the limited space for root development was indi- cations of stress in most of the trees. It is likely this induced stress was exacerbated by a combination of limited rooting area, compacted soil, and a faulty irrigation system. The removal of the low retaining wall proved to be more problematic than initially anticipated, because it was deeper and more highly rein- forced than it appeared on the surface. Unfortunately, some root dam- age to the trees was inescapable. The design change made provision for additional rooting space for the trees bordering the grassy area of the park but could do nothing to alleviate the rooting conditions of the trees surrounded by concrete and brick pavers. The project manager for the City of Sarasota, Neil Gaines, along with other advisory consultants recommended the installation of the W.A.N.E. 3000 Tree Feeder System to allow an increase in the penetration of water, nutrients, and air to the root systems of these trees. 14 After Renovation The W.A.N.E. 3000 unit and unit installed attractive asset to this corner of downtown Sarasota. Fine art sculpture in the corners, a user-friendly grassy space in the center, and strategi- cally placed benches are sure to make the park area a popular place to take a breather for local business workers and patrons.The trees appear to have survived the renovation process well and have budded out strongly this spring. There is no doubt in this author’s mind that the W.A.N.E. 3000 units have been a significant factor in the strong recovery of the trees and will substantially extend the lives of the trees in the challenging urban environment. On Staff —Richard Bailey Professional Forester, Inc. Tel: (813) 689-3333 richardbaileypf@yahoo.com City Trees