The City of Palo Alto has set a tentative time frame for the planting of several new species of trees on California Avenue.
According to senior engineer Elizabeth Ames of the city’s Public Works Department, the replacement trees have been ordered and the city hopes to hold a planting event open to the Palo Alto community at the end of January or early February.
“We are trying to plant in the winter season when the trees are dormant and the root systems are not as sensitive,” Ames said.
There will be five different species of trees, including seven Shumard oaks, eight Southern Live oaks, six Freeman maples, four Valley oaks, and 27 Tilias, totaling 66 trees in all. Previously there had been 50 holly oaks.
Ames pointed to the local community as a guiding force behind the tree selection process.
“There was a lot of community involvement,” Ames said. “We held two community meetings at which we presented a variety of trees selected by an arborist. The community commented on the trees and really helped to contribute to the planting plan. They made it clear that they wanted more than just a deciduous variety of trees. The gave the arborists a basic planting plan for the types of trees the community wanted.”
The new trees are a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees. The holly oaks that had lined California Avenue were deciduous, according to Ames.
“The types of trees will be scattered around,” Ames said. “It is a mix of trees that you would see in a natural setting like the Foothills, not the same trees right next to each other. The oaks will bring a natural setting complimentary to the neighborhood.”
The planting is the first stage of the city’s two-part project on California Avenue. Along with the addition of new trees, the city will fix the irrigation system and relocate concrete planters that are currently located along the road.
The road remained bare for three months after the sudden removal of the mature oak trees that lined the road. A lack of communication with the Palo Alto community regarding the removal of the trees led to controversy, according to Palo Alto Online. Many local businesses and Palo Alto’s tree steward, Canopy, said they had never been told of the impending removal.
The second phase of improvements involves the renovation of the street and its surroundings.
“The city will add new outdoor furniture and bike racks and re-stripe the road from four lanes to two,” Ames said. “Additionally, the city may remove kiosks that dot the area and possibly organize the newsstands that are scattered up and down the road.”
According to Ames, the second stage of the project could be implemented by next summer, depending on the result of community and City Council meetings.
Ames says that the city is postponing planting at the fountain area located at the end of California Avenue while it makes changes regarding the fountain. The area will also be improved with new furniture and the addition of bike lockers.
She also noted that one of the oak trees will be planted in the center median of the avenue to compliment the existing California native art display.
“It will serve as a gateway into the district,” Ames said.
If students are interested in participating in the upcoming planting event, they can contact Canopy at [email protected] or (650) 964-6110.