As debate continues on the possibility of replacing part of Jesup Green with parking spots, Westport’s tree warden has issued a report.
Ben Sykas — a certified arborist — examined 3 trees, at the easternmost (top) portion of the green. All would be removed, under a current renovation plan.
Aerial view of Jesup Green in summer. The Westport Library is at left; Jesup Road is on the right. The Norway spruce is identified by a green pin; the white pine by blue, the linden by purple.
The same scene in winter.
Sykas says that the Norway spruce “contains significant structural concerns which warrant its removal when actionable.
“Conifer trees in general are weak wooded trees, in conjunction with codominant structure containing decay and separation are factors that cannot be reliably mitigated.”
Norway spruce at Jesup Green. Close-up photos in the tree warden’s report show seams, and root damage.
Two other trees warrant further examination, Sykas says.
The white pine tree is a member of a species that is fast growing and thus “weak wooded.”
Limb failure is common in white pines during weather events like wind, snow and ice, Sykas says.
They are also known for “uprooting due to shallow footing.” Because of its location and exposure due to its height and open surroundings, plus previous branch failures, “mitigation to reduce risk might be possible.” Further investigation is needed however, according to the tree warden.
White pine at Jesup Green. Other photos in the report show branch structure and roots.
The linden tree “appears to be in average health.” Recent pruning reduced the risk of falling branches. Like white pines, lindens also grow rapidly and can be weaker than other species. They can be prone to cavities and decay.
Sykas recommends further investigation of this linden’s cavity.
Click here full the tree warden’s full report.
Linden at Jesup Green. Close-up photos are in the tree warden’s report.
(“06880” covers all aspects of the current parking debate — and everything else in town too. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Practically the whole Parker Harding – Jesup Green and state of the downtown parking action plan seems to “contain serious structural concerns” ! Concepts and overall planning is disjointed and poorly executed. Confusion as to how a public process like this should be discussed and transacted has now led to a position of various town procedures that seem stymied and a consensus of support for a great outcome has become mired in a fractured democratic process. Start right, stay tight and finish right! It works so much better than this avoidable mess!
Please please do not pave over Jesup green. It’s beautiful green space by the library and river. That’s where moms and kids sit outside and run and play. Please Use the parking behind paper source and the bank.
You have to find another way.
If DPIC had not recommended the ripping up
of Jesup Green for parking would these trees be
on the immediate chopping block regardless? I don’t recall ever a mention
of these trees being problematic before.
Does this mean we will now check every single tree on
town property and any slightest issue will warrant
a chain saw or just the trees that might impede our First
Selectman and town committee’s personal preferences
for development?
Imagine. A tree warden suddenly discovers trees that need attending to. Hmmm. Traffic surveys almost never identify congestion problems or pedestrian safety issues and a hammer almost always finds a nail.
I assume this Tree Report was occasioned by the proposal to add parking paving to Jessup Green. It reminds me how most of us only learned of the shortage of baseball fields as a result of the need for a new Long Lots School. It seems that reasons surface to support certain actions, e.g. a new school or Jessup Green paving, not when the issue may have been first known, but rather in the context of a very different agenda item of our First Selectwoman, Jen Tooker. The process gives me pause. The present proposal for Jessup Green is, I believe, a very bad proposal.
Exactly Don Bergman
Concentrating on the trees is important but missing the point of SAVING OPEN GREEN SPACE in our town. This park is downtown, next to our library and near the river! We have plenty of already paved areas downtown that can be re-imagined for more parking.
I don’t mean to speak out of turn here, but the Tree Warden is simply sharing his own professional opinion. I trust him to make a fair and honest report. There are a LOT of trees in town, so to suggest he is inattentive or misleading in his report I find to be QUITE a rude and unfair attack on his character. Just looking at a tree will not give a professional all the facts and he has done specific testing to confirm his statements. He has the authority AND credentials here as Tree Warden.
Having said that, this is only one professional opinion and other tree professionals and enthusiasts may have differing opinions and that is just the nature (pun intended) of the diversity in perspective and valuing of trees. Have any here making accusations and snide remarks attended a Tree Board meeting? I find this board to have a wonderful diversity in thought, experience, and values and I think that’s an assett to our town. I won’t and can’t speak for them, but there are diverse ideas on how this greenspace might be approached and I learned a lot just from listening in with an open mind.
I absolutely support the preservation and celebration of our town’s trees especially on such a well-loved greenspace in the heart of town. I was very relieved to hear the careful attention to the safety of the adjacent, magnificent Oaks. At the recent Tree Board meeting I attended, I learned that one of these Oaks is a sapling from our town’s charter Oak! (Of course, no one alive knows which one and I find that really funny as a youngster)
Anyway, obviously I could wax on and on about trees, but I do hope that we can speak up for these trees in our town which don’t pose immediate danger, and especially those that have ecological value, so they can be cherished and preserved. These trees do a whole lot for our town every day and we should appreciate them for it!
The tree warden, though trying to make us all “feel better” about losing the trees, is simply full of it…absent the destructive lot concept, those trees would be leading happy, long lives…any
imperfections be damned.