this is a long one, but I think all will enjoy it.
Like in many older cities across the United States, Utica's main street, Genesee Street, once proudly displayed a dense canopy of American Elm, Ulmus americana. This native tree was favored for its fast growth and vase-like branching habit, which allowed for optimal shaping within an aerial utility environment. Unfortunately, an outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease took tree after tree, destroying this urban forest and the street's appearance. It seems this event also came to symbolize the decay of the city and its loss of economic vigor.
No tree replacement candidate was promoted by the greater landscape industry, because it was unable to recommend a species that cities could significantly invest in like the elm. As a result, many different tree species were planted with little knowledge of their street tree suitability. This left today's Genesee Street with a chaotic appearance, having trees of all different forms, heights and character.
Evolution of Liberty's For Genesee Project
The Liberty's for Genesee Project had its genesis in 2002, when the Elm Research Institute (ERI) of Keene, New Hampshire contacted David Short, City of Utica Parks Commissioner. ERI previously donated what they observed to be disease-resistant American Liberty Elm (Ulmus americana libertas) seedlings to a Utica Boy Scout Troop in 1984. This troop was participating in ERI's Johnny Elmseed Project in an effort to reintroduce elms to the urban landscape. ERI contacted Commissioner Short to get an evaluation of the surviving elms eighteen years after planting.
Commissioner Short enlisted the help of Jim Chanantry, a retired landscape architect with significant streetscape project experience, in conducting the evaluation. Both were excited by the vigor of the remaining elms and believed the trees success in Utica was the evidence they needed to champion an effort to restore the Genesee Street's elegant landscape and "pumprime" the city's reinvestment in its urban forest.
In the spring of 2003, Commissioner Short and Mr. Chanatry traveled to Keene, New Hampshire to see the ERI nursery. They toured the facility and saw how the American Liberty Elms were propagated. That day, the city purchased six of these disease-resistant trees. Funds came from the Parks Department's operational budget. Later that spring, they were planted on Genesee Street in South Utica. The site was chosen because there were no existing street trees and there were few physical conflicts. The trees were containerized, which allowed for greater ease in transportation and installation. The planting was a test to see how well the trees would grow and to measure public support. The trees did very well and the planting was considered a success. All six trees remained vigorous and undamaged by the end of the first year.
The great success of the initial planting gave the city the confidence to plant six more trees the following year, which became Phase II of the Liberty's For Genesee Project. Site selection remained the same as for the previous planting. Once again, funds to purchase the trees came from the Parks' Department operational budget. Citizens began to notice and inquire about the new trees. They were very pleased with the project as many remembered the beauty of Genesee Street when the elms were abundant. After another year, the twelve trees from both plantings remained healthy and undamaged.
Phase III began in the fall of 2005 with the planting of fifteen additional trees. These trees were purchased through a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Urban and Community Forestry Program grant. Street conditions for this planting warranted larger, heartier trees; the American Liberty Elms selected were field-grown trees propagated at the nursery, but grown entirely outdoors with no pruning. The future of these trees remains uncertain; they are healthy, but lack the desired shape due to their previous growing conditions. At this time, all twelve trees from Phases I and II remain very healthy and undamaged.
A Phased Approach
With realized success and public support, the City of Utica decided to formalize the Liberty's For Genesee Project into a ten-year phased project.
PHASE
YEAR
SITE
PLAN
IV
2007
1600 Block of Elm Street
§ Develop nursery
§ Purchase ERI germinal seedlings
V
2008
Woodlawn Avenue to North of Beverly Place
§ Purchase and plant 34 contract-grown trees
VI
2009
North of Beverly Place to Amy Avenue
§ Purchase and plant 34 contract-grown trees
VII
2010
Amy Avenue to Emerson Avenue
§ Purchase and plant 34 contract-grown trees
VIII
2011
Clinton Place to Oneida Square
§ Purchase and plant 34 contract-grown trees
IX
2012
Emerson Avenue to Springate Street
§ Purchase and plant 34 contract-grown trees
X
2013
Springate Street to Clinton Place
§ Purchase and plant 34 contract-grown trees
§ Seedlings Cap Project
Demolition
A demolition strategy was devised based on a scoring system. A census was taken of existing trees and the scoring system was applied to yield objectivity. Five removal criteria were selected for the scoring: siting, species desirability, age, condition and height. Each criterion is broken down into sub-criteria and trees were evaluated based on this system. A tree's score was calculated from values assigned to each sub-criterion. The following table was generated to record the raw data for each tree:
(TABLE MISSING, PLEASE SEE PDF FOR TABLE)
ees were evaluated and categorized based on their scores:
10-25 = Low-value tree – immediate removal & replacement recommended
26-35 = Mid-value tree – future removal & replacement recommended
36-45 = High-value tree – no removal or replacement recommended at this time
Our census revealed that 211 trees needed to be removed; 128 low-value trees will be the first to be removed and 19 will be transplanted to designated sites within the city. The remaining 64 trees will be removed in later phases. It is believed this strategy will generate the most community support as the citizens adjust to the new streetscape, while not creating a sense of "nakedness".
Planting
Prior to planting, the project area was assessed for construction suitability in order to develop a planting strategy. Many of the existing trees to be removed were planted too close to each other and were in close proximity to paved areas, such as driveways and sidewalks. Some were also in conflict with utility poles or on narrow stretches of lawn. Other factors in the assessment included budget, transportability and transplantability.
It was decided a tree specification would be written that would be given to the ERI Grower. This would ensure the city would be provided an affordable, transportable, transplantable tree with a great chance for vigorous survival. This specification is as follows:
Caliper: 2" to 2¼" measured at 6" above soil level
Height: 12' – 14'
Trunk Clearance: 2008 crop - 3' – 5' of clear trunk
2009 crop - 3' of clear trunk
Container Size: 24" pot (18"x24"x18½"), 27.5 gallons
These trees, along with planting materials, will cost $290 per tree. After reviewing the construction suitability assessment and planting specification, it was determined that 205 trees would be planted at 50' intervals. This means a total investment in trees and planting materials of $59,450; this does not include transportation and labor. The financial support of local and state government and the continued partnership with ERI will be necessary for the successful completion of the project.
At this time, ERI is the sole source of the American Liberty Elm. Other communities might consider a different disease-resistant elm or a different grower. The City of Utica believes ERI's American Liberty Elm to be the best choice, after observing first-hand ERI's success cultivating the elm and the trees own success here in the city.
Growing
One of the unique benefits of doing business with ERI is their Matching Tree Grant Program. When you purchase trees from ERI, they provide a "dividend" in the form of free trees (for more information, please go to
. The partnership generated between ERI and the City of Utica allows for some flexibility in the grant program. For every 2" to 2¼" caliper-sized tree the city purchases, ERI provides the city with three seedlings.
Because the city wishes to place trees of similar size and condition within the streetscape and do so within budgetary limitations, it begs the development of a small city nursery. The perfect site became available under some unusual circumstances. Property at 1620 Elm Street, already owned by the City of Utica Urban Renewal Agency, was destroyed by arson. The site was cleared and is now vacant land. It seems aptly named and in an ideal location; it sits directly across the street from Watson-Williams Elementary School. As children are seedlings themselves, it seems only appropriate to locate a tree nursery in this spot. It will serve an additional purpose as an educational resource for the area's schoolchildren.
Construction began in 2005, but was halted due to legal issues. It is our hope that the idea of a city-owned and operated tree nursery will be embraced by the public, as the completion of the
Liberty's For Genesee Project is dependant upon the nursery's success. In the final phase of the project, the trees cultivated in the nursery will be the last trees planted at no additional cost to the city.
Hope for the Future
Once upon a time, Utica was known for its beautiful parks and tree-lined streets. The elm tree was an icon of elegance, grace and strength. When the city was thriving, the elms were thriving – or is it the other way around?
According to the New York State Urban Forestry Council, the positive effects trees have on human health and well-being are numerous. Studies have found that exposure to trees reduces the symptoms of stress and depression, can aid in recovery from surgery, and reduce the incidence of domestic violence. People are more likely to exercise if parks are nearby. When people utilize parks and shady street trees, they are more likely to meet and establish bonds with their neighbors, and create a sense of community. When people enjoy spending time in their neighborhoods, they develop pride and a sense of ownership in their communities. Studies also show that trees improve air and water quality, reduce flooding, reduce cooling and heating energy needs, increase property values and improve the quality of life for people around them.
It is our great hope this project will restore the majesty and dignity the elms give to the city and in turn, bring back a sense of community, high quality of life and a pride lost long ago.
For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.
~Martin Luther
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