INNISFAIL – More than 100 trees at the end of their lifespan at Rotary Ann Park are going to be removed within a three-year span.
And they will be replaced with new sets of trees, a mix of Princess Kay Plum, Parkland Pillar Birch, Bur Oak, Mountain Pine, and Columnar Oakleaf Mountain Ash.
The plan to enhance the biodiversity of the landscape at Rotary Ann Park was introduced by Steven Kennedy, director of operations for the Town of Innisfail, at town council’s Agenda & Priorities Meeting earlier this month.
Council unanimously approved Kennedy’s tree removal project report as information.
“The Operations Department of the Town of Innisfail has crafted a comprehensive multi-year plan aimed at enhancing the existing green spaces within the community,” said Kennedy in his report to council. “This initiative involves the systematic replacement of trees that have naturally reached the end of their lifecycle.”
Specifically, said Kennedy, the town’s parks department have identified a “number of mature trees” within the Rotary Ann Park area, south of the Innisfail Aquatic Centre, as being at the end of their lifespan and becoming a high risk.
Council was told there are currently about 312 trees within the area with 113 targeted for removal and their stumps ground down.
Kennedy said the tree removal project within Rotary Ann Park will start later this spring.
He said the plan is to remove the targeted trees over a three-year period, which is about 37 per year, and start replanting new ones within the project’s second year.
He said project costs are covered within the parks department’s operating budget.
Replying from a question by mayor Jean Barclay, Kennedy said residents to the south and east of the area will be notified of the tree removal project.
Barclay noted the trees slated to be removed are “very tall and provide a lot of shade” and wanted to know if the new replacements will provide the same comfort.
Kennedy told council that “some” of the new ones are tall, such as the columnars.
“It’s just so hot, like in the summer you walk along 60th Avenue, and it's such a difference when you're in the sun, as opposed to walking underneath the tree canopy,” said Barclay.
Coun. Jason Heistad added it was important that the right communications plan about the project is released to the community, especially folks near the targeted trees.
“People freak out with trees,” said Heistad. “I think the staggered approach is probably the right approach to do, but it's a big whack of trees that we're replacing, and it's needed. I think it’s really important.
“It just comes down to communication on all our social medias and our local print media as well.”
