Trees felled on South Street, but don’t despair, Morristown officials say

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It was pretty disconcerting to discover a couple of stately trees suddenly missing on South Street, near Provisi. Morristown’s town engineer, Jeff Hartke, said this week’s removals were part of the ongoing sidewalk replacement.

The trees will be replaced. Jeff said everything was done with the blessing of the town environmental commission and the Morristown Partnership, the business organization involved with beautification of downtown streetscapes.

CUT DOWN TO SIZE: A Bradford pear tree on South Street soon will be firewood. A new tree will be planted closer to the curb. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
CUT DOWN TO SIZE: A Bradford pear tree on South Street soon will be firewood. A new tree will be planted closer to the curb. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Samantha Rothman, who studied forestry at Yale and serves on the environmental commission, explained via e-mail what was chopped down, and what’s coming next:

The trees that were removed were Bradford pears.  Bradford pear was a tree of choice in the 60’s – 70’s for urban environments because it flowers nicely, however in time urban foresters realized that the branching architecture of the tree resulted in weak crotches between limbs that broke easily — and they are not a long lived species.

The trees that were taken down were probably about 40 years old.   Also, a number of the trees were located right in the middle of the sidewalk so it made it hard to get around them- – the new trees will be located at the curb.

There are a number of new species that will be planted all along South Street; not just one type (the way it is now).  The reason for doing this is because it is better for the environment to have a multitude of species, as opposed to a monoculture of tree types.

Also, the species we selected are all longer lived species than Bradford pears. While the new trees will look small, compared to those that have been removed, with proper care, the new trees will give shade and look great in about five years.  Sounds like a lot, but looking at my 4-year-old, I can say: “Time sure goes fast”!!

STUMPED: South Street tree bites the dust for sidewalk replacement. A new tree will relace it, closer to the curb, according to town officials.. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
STUMPED: South Street tree bites the dust for sidewalk replacement. A new tree will relace it, closer to the curb, according to town officials.. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Another view of South Street tree that is on its way out. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Another view of South Street tree that is on its way out. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

2 COMMENTS

  1. What are the plans for the tree they cut in front of 83 South St. the house that is now occupied by the Hampshire Group. I hope they plant that tree in a different spot, as the original location obstructs the sidewalk.

    One a different note, I find it incredible annoying that I pay an SID tax for the purpose of putting in new sidewalks on a street that does not affect my property at all. The entire Morristown Partnership needs to be reworked to exclude streets that do not see the benefit of paying into making improvements such as Maple. We pay this stupid tax for what? We are never going to see them ever make improvements to my street, and my family has been paying this tax since its inception!

  2. This is great for the Town, but South Street already looks a hey of lot better than Speedwell, so when does Speedwell get some Town attention?

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