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Idea grows into tree planting Project brings together city, neighborhood, forestry people By JILL BRISKEY An idea planted in the minds of Queen Anne Avenue residents more than two years ago was finally given a chance to grow Saturday morning. Working side by side, neighbors and members of city and arbor organizations worked together to plant 20 saplings in the shadow of massive oak and maple trees lining both sides of the east Medford street. "This is such a positive thing," Queen Anne resident Vicki Arthur said. "Not only did we save our trees but we've started something that more neighborhoods can jump on to." Two years ago, residents feared they would lose the towering canopy of trees flanking Queen Anne Avenue when rumors circulated regarding a city plan to remove the trees for a sidewalk project. Nobody was willing to see that happen, according to Arthur, who later became the neighborhood organizer for the project. "None of us wanted to lose our trees. They are beautiful," she said. "We found we needed to work with the city to make something happen." Arthur learned that although the trees were planted in the city's right-of-way, homeowners were responsible for their care. And that care was expensive, Arthur discovered. The community banded together and paid $500 for an inventory of the existing 100 trees along the street. They learned that several trees needed to be replaced and others required pruning. The cost of pruning one tree could run between $200 and $500, Arthur discovered. That's when a partnership began between the community and members of the Medford Park and Recreation's Tree Committee, according to program coordinator Gwendolyn Scott. "We work to protect and maintain Medford's urban forests, and all of the facets that go along with that," Scott said of the tree committee. "We're trying to obtain the goal of 40 percent tree canopy cover over the city." Working together, Scott and Arthur were able to obtain a $3,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry to pilot a partnership program between the city and neighbors. Queen Anne residents raised $4,000 toward their goal. On April 21, volunteers and members of the Society of American Foresters worked together to remove and cut up nine dead or dying trees and cut up stumps. "It was a big project, and we didn't want anybody going in there and getting hurt. That's part of the reason we're involved," said Dick Felgenhour, a representative of Society of American Foresters. "We brought our chainsaws and did the cutting." Medford Mayor Lindsay Berryman stopped by Saturday morning to hold a brief ceremony declaring April as "Arbor Month" in the city. She praised the dedication of the neighbors and other agencies involved. "It's these type of partnerships that create a sense of joy and spiritual renewal," Berryman told Queen Anne Avenue residents. "This is a true, neighborhood street. It's a shining example of Medford." Saturday, resident Cindy Graham helped shovel dirt and rocks to make room for the new Green Mountain sugar maple, seed shadow maple and scarlet oak saplings that were being planted. "This is such a great effort," Graham said, adding that she and her husband bought their house on Queen Anne Avenue after discovering the picturesque street by accident. "I just started driving, getting lost in the city and then I stumbled onto this street. I fell in love with it. " Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Grant helps cover tree cost Trees add beauty, and they can drastically reduce a home's heating or cooling costs, says Tree Committee Program Coordinator Gwendolyn Scott of Medford Parks and Recreation. However, caring, removing or planting trees can be a costly project. Working with Queen Anne Avenue residents, Scott said the Oregon Department of Forestry awarded the city a $3,000 grant in order to pilot a partnership program between the city and neighborhoods to care for and enhance street trees. Through volunteerism, community donations and the grants, nine dying trees were removed from Queen Anne Avenue and 20 saplings planted, Scott said. Officials with the Tree Committee are urging interested community members who wish to save their own street trees or plant new ones to contact the parks department at 774-2400, Scott added. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.