City of Vancouver to remove three aging trees from Esther Short Park

This past January, a Norway Maple tree along Esther Street failed at the base, determined later to have been caused by root rot

VANCOUVER — After a careful evaluation, the city of Vancouver will be removing two declining Norway maple trees along Esther Street and one Norway Maple with structural issues along 8th Street in the next few weeks.

Two of the three aging trees to be removed in Esther Short Park are shown here. Photo courtesy of city of Vancouver
Two of the three aging trees to be removed in Esther Short Park are shown here. Photo courtesy of city of Vancouver

This past January, a Norway Maple tree along Esther Street failed at the base, determined later to have been caused by root rot. This prompted an assessment of all existing trees along Esther to determine if they also were suffering from root rot. Fortunately, none of the trees tested showed any indications of having root rot. However, arborists did identify three trees as having health and structural issues that could not be corrected.

Over the past 10 years, several of the trees at Esther Short Park have reached the end of their life span and have had to be replaced. The three Norway Maples that will soon be removed will also be replaced. This succession planting is part of the long-term plan to retain the character and beauty of large, mature trees throughout the park.

Vancouver’s urban forest is an integral part of the city’s physical infrastructure, providing a strong sense of community, a pleasant environment, improved water and air quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and many other benefits. Proper planting of the right tree in the right place, along with proper pruning and maintenance, are the best defenses against tree damage.

For more information about trees, tree permits, and tree care, please visit our webpage at www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry. Questions? Call Urban Forestry at (360) 487-8328 or (360) 487-8308, or email urbanforestry@cityofvancouver.us.

Information provided by city of Vancouver.