Walk to There

Garbage on sidewalk & trash containers left out allweek

Sidewalk not shoveled

Broken manhole middle of street

Opened electric box

5 truckloads of concrete going into Farmington Canal at FBI

Unsafe sidewalks!!

No Steet lights this block Whole street

Street light hanging by wires

Trash covering fire hydrant.

Trucks driving on New Haven Green. My Plant Scientist wife tells me Elm Trees are shallow rooted, meaning any driving over roots can kill the tree. Please do not drive near New Haven's few Elm Trees.

Sorry, must have missed the cut-off date.

Thanks Rebecca Bombero for your response, copied below, and for outlining policies. The point of my original post was that an unusual number of newly planted trees don't survive. I know URI is tremendously overburdened, and perhaps can't water trees adequately. Therefore, I suggested planting fewer trees to alleviate the watering problem (more budget can go to watering), and trees will have better chance for survival.

Regarding pests, you are correct to select for variety. However, the streets are not forests. Streets with the same variety are more magnificent. Wondering if it might be possible to identify the most resilient varieties (red [fall color], white or bur oaks, lindens, etc.) and stick to them. At one time New Haven was the "Elm City" sticking to that variety. Maybe it could become the "Oak City."

Just some thoughts - Robert

Thanks for your suggestion. 1/3 of our Capital budget does go to tree planting we try to have as many trees planted as we remove. The rest of the capital budget goes to removals and trimming. Unfortunately, we have more requests each year than we have the capacity to meet so we can't commit more.

For tree plantings we work with URI to identify a volunteer steward for each tree planted who ensures that the trees are watered for the first three years of establishment. This model has a significantly higher survival rate than other methods. Unfortunately there are many other stresses on trees. We also work on a 5/5 rule - in no year no more than 20% of a tree planted will be from the same genius. Of that 20% no more than 20% will be from the same species to help reduce the likelihood of loosing an entire street from one of those stresses like the emerald ash borer or dutch elm.

The image you included looks like Oranges street, not Chapel. Please let us know the correct address in a new posting so we can make sure we have the tree inspected.

Dead trees from lack if maintenance. Suggestions.

1. Split new tree budget into three parts.
2. Spend first third on purchasing and planting trees. Match predominate species on any given block. Space trees 30-35' apart. Edward Street is good prototype.
3. Use remaining 2/3 budget to water and maintain trees until they are fully established.

Thanks

Line down between poles along Willow Street between Livingston an Whitney.

Dangerous Height

Twice crossing Wall Street near Harkness Tower I came within inches of injury. A new bike lane goes in the opposite direction to the one-way vehicle lane. While watching for adequate window between cars to cross, one can be injured by unsuspected bikes coming from behind and traveling fast due to dedicated lane and their better visibility of oncoming traffic. Not good!

Install bike rack on sidewalk in front of 839 Chapel Street. Please ask bldg owner about placement location before installing. Thx.