Photos by David Ledger – above photo: sidewalk buckling from tree roots on Liberty Street
Recently, all the street trees on a long block of Liberty Street next to Trinity Street in Redding were cut down, however, it was for the right reasons. All the trees were Liquidambar, a tree with very shallow roots. The trees have pushed up the sidewalk along most of the street, making it hazardous for people walking, especially at night. The accompanying pictures show how badly the sidewalks were damaged. One photo on nearby Trinity Street shows where the city crews had repaired the sidewalk to circumvent the trees of a different species, giving them room to grow.
Rico Montenegro, a local arborist and tree advocate, said cities throughout California have had trouble with Liquidambar trees, which is why they are no longer used as street trees.
Above photo: sidewalks repaired on Trinity Street
Montenegro recently saw some tall shady sycamore trees on Churn Creek Road near Mistletoe that were being topped by a gardener, which will result in a continuing need for extensive pruning once they are topped. Both of these examples point to the need for Redding to hire an Urban Forester or have a citizens advisory committee composed of experienced arborists to advise the Planning Department and Streets and Parks Department on proper tree selection. Many cities require any company that prunes or removes trees to have a certified arborist on their staff. This would help the short-staffed Redding Community Services Department, which oversees Parks and Recreation.
Above photo: Sycamore trees poorly cut