On the Bright Side: City spruces up with tree program

On the Bright Side

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A NEWLY PLANTED OAK TREE is shown Monday on Center Street in Oneonta next to the stump of one that was removed. BENJAMIN PATTON | THE DAILY STAR

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June 19, 2012

On the Bright Side: City spruces up with tree program

Anonymous Staff Report The Daily Star Tue Jun 19, 2012, 08:19 AM EDT

Oneonta is looking a little greener these days, thanks to a program bringing new trees to city streets, and city homeowners now have a way to get in on the action.

Dave Hutchison, chairman of the city's Environmental Board, said that the board began planting bare-root trees in the median area between curbs and sidewalks around the city more than six years ago.

Using this method, Hutchison said, more than 200 young trees were planted around the city. Players from the State University College at Oneonta baseball team and students from Hartwick College and the high school, as well as volunteers from the city and members of the Environmental Board, helped plant 30 or more trees each fall for six years.

According to Hutchison, the bare-root method worked well for tree species that will not grow greater than 30 feet, and can be planted under overhead wires, but a new initiative will bring taller trees to private properties.

With the support of Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller and Common Council, the city is embarking on a program to expand the tree-planting program in two ways.

"First, we want to plant larger-growing species such as oak, elm, linden and katsura (a Japanese tree suitable to this climate) using the ball and burlap method," Hutchison explained in an email to The Daily Star. "Secondly, we want to plant these larger trees in open spaces on private property (or on city property)."

According to Hutchison, 31 of these types of larger trees were planted throughout the city in the spring on Church Street, Ford Avenue, Maple Street, Center Street, River Street and other areas. Property owners who are interested in participating can contact the city clerk's office at 432-6450 or email jkoury@oneonta.ny.us, or Hutchison at 433-2236 or Hutchisondm35@yahoo.com.

Planting will continue in the fall and spring. The Environmental Board, working with an arborist, will make the final determination about the best planting sites for trees. Hutchison explained that the city aims to fill in sites where old trees had recently been removed.

Funding for the program comes from a grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and from proceeds from the harvesting of ash trees on city-owned forest lands.