Tree trimming on Main Street set to begin Sept. 8

LANCASTER – Some trees, in addition to the leaves, are going to fall this autumn in downtown Lancaster.

“This was a project we delayed from the spring after talking with Destination Downtown Lancaster,” said Steve Gayfield, Lancaster Parks & Recreation superintendent. Starting on Sept. 8, tree-cutting and trimming crews will work in the downtown area on Main, Broad and Columbus streets.

Gayfield said there are a number of ash trees that need to come down after being attacked by the emerald ash borer.

The emerald ash borer is an exotic beetle originally discovered in the U.S. near Detroit in the summer of 2002. Although the adult beetles nibble on ash foliage, they cause little damage. Their larvae, however, feed on the inner bark of ash trees, cutting channels around the tree trunk, which limits the trees’ ability to circulate water and nutrients. It was found in Ohio in 2003.

“We also have a few other trees that are dead and some that need trimmed away from the buildings,” Gayfield said.

David Scheffler, executive director of Destination Downtown Lancaster and Lancaster’s Special Improvement District, said the decision was made to hold off the tree removal until this fall because they didn’t want the area to be without trees during the Lancaster Festival.

“You can tell which ones are the ash trees because the tops are dead already,” Scheffler said. “We understand they are going to start on Main Street on Sept. 8 and then move to Broad Street and then Columbus Street.”

Gayfield said all the trees are in the city right-of-way and they plan to plant new trees in mid- to late October to replace the ones being cut down.

“The new trees are going to be thornless honeylocust trees that seem to thrive downtown,” Gayfield said.

Scheffler said the honeylocust trees are ideal because they do well in the urban environment.

“They don’t have thorns or berries, which irritate pedestrians,” Scheffler said. “They also produce smaller leaves which seem to be easier to blow away.”

Gayfield said crews will use parking spaces near the trees they’re working on, moving as they go.

Both Gayfield and Scheffler said they tree removal should only last a week.

cburnett@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4346

Twitter: @CarlBurnettJr