After losing at least 1,000 trees in a windstorm last month, the city of Quincy is starting efforts to replace them.
The city is working with the Quincy Park District and the organization ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ on the project.
‘Trees for Tomorrow’ is a non-profit organization funded by private donations that has planted over 700 trees over the past seven years.
All of the replacement trees are donated, with each tree costing $275.
Anne St. John of the Quincy Tree Commission says the heavy rainfall the city experienced softened the soil and made it easier for the trees to be uprooted by the wind.
“Some of these trees are 200 year-old trees. They’re 100 feet tall and the roots of trees go only two or three feet into the ground so the slightest little thing can make them come down,” St. John said.
Hundreds of trees will be needed to replace the ones lost in the storm, but even after those trees are replaced, St. John believes ‘Trees for Tomorrow’s’ work will still continue.
“That will be an unending thing and I’m sure it will be for the park district too because as trees age, they come down whether it’s in a storm or they just die of natural sources. So our goal is to maintain our urban forest and be the tree city that we’re known for,” St. John said.
The city, along with the Quincy Park District and ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ has created a priority list that features ten places where new trees are needed.
The list includes:
- Madison Park
- Maine Street from 12 Street to 24 Street
- South Park
- State Street from 12 Street to 24 Street
- Gardner Park
- Hampshire Street from 12 Street to 24 Street
- Berrien Park
- Vermont Street from 12 Street to 24 Street
- Reservoir Park
- Washington Park
