Hundreds of trees slated for Arcadia

Arcadia will be home to over $200,000 worth of new trees this year thanks to a donation that will finance new trees on the city’s east side and replacement trees throughout several city parks.

The plantings include what was begun in the fall near the new multi-family El Dorado Hills development. The job of planting new trees in city parks and along Blaschko Avenue is expected to resume by April, according to Michael Moran of Ashley Furniture Industries who described the plan to the council last Wednesday.

Overall, the planting program, funded by a donation from Ron and Joyce Wanek Foundation, is expected to add or replace 607 trees in the city.

“We plan to have better biodiversity, not all one species, so we can prevent the spread of sickness,” Moran said.

The city has been removing ash trees that have suffered from an insect infestation, and Moran said several other types of trees in Memorial Park have died or are ailing. He said Ashley employees recently helped city staff removed trees from the park while the ground is still frozen.

The new planting will be in a way that “you shouldn’t see a negative look; it won’t look stripped out,” Moran said. He noted that the company with which the foundation is working, Legacy Trees from Hatfield, has a technique for planting trees that is expected to increase tree longevity.

The plan includes:

• Memorial Park, 262 new or replacement shade and ornamental trees.

• Blaschko Avenue, 32 shade trees.

• Schank Park, 46 shade, fir and arborvitae trees.

• El Dorado, 29 shade, fir and walnut.