Salem Will Remove, Replant Downtown Trees Next Month

SALEM, MA - From the City of Salem: On or around September 10, weather permitting, the City of Salem and its tree contractor will begin the removal of a number of dead trees located in the vicinity of Derby Square, Essex Street (Pedestrian Mall), Central Street, and Front Street. The dead and declining trees scheduled to be removed can be identified by an orange dot that has been painted on each tree’s lower trunk. Only those determined to be dead, declining, or hazardous by the City’s certified arborist/tree warden will be removed. In the following weeks after the removal process all locations will be repopulated with new trees ranging in size and in species. It is suspected that the decline of the trees that will be removed was due to both the monoculture of the tree species in the area and, potentially, the drought conditions of the previous summer. The newly installed trees will be of a broader diversity and variety of species, which will, it is hoped, better ensure their survival and growth.

All of the tree locations have been tested for natural gas leaks and the tree species for each location has been specifically and intentionally selected after careful consideration by the City’s arborist/tree warden.

At times during the removal work or during planting areas around these tree locations may be inaccessible to pedestrians and/or vehicles. The parking areas of Central Street will see parking restrictions on Monday, September 10th, while Front Street will see parking restrictions on Tuesday, September 11th (again, weather permitting). Police details will be on hand to assist both through-traffic and pedestrians. We also ask that residents and business owners be patient with the noise levels of the tree removal and stump grinding process for these two aforementioned days.

While no one likes to see a tree removed, when a tree reaches the point where it has died or it presents a hazard to property or persons, the City has a responsibility to remove it. The City also, however, maintains its goal of replacing each tree that is removed. In this case, the City will be planting more trees than will be removed, as more locations in this vicinity have been identified as viable planting locations. As much as resources allow, the City works to replant tree locations quickly and to do so in a manner that is sustainable and strategic for their long-term success. In the last year, the City has planted hundreds of new public trees throughout the City. For additional information, or if you have questions about this downtown tree removal and planting project, please call the Department of Public Works at 978-744-3302.

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