The Parks and Recreation Department of the City of El Paso moved quickly recently to protect mature trees at a City construction site. Parks Superintendent Sam Calhoun made sure that stands of mature Afghan pines and mixed deciduous trees were fenced off at the construction of a new Cielo Vista Library at Vista del Valle Park on Hawkins Blvd.
What has happened too often in the past is that the root systems of mature trees are not protected during construction. Contractors too often allowed their heavy machinery to drive over the area of the root zone of mature trees and to park in the same area. Soil is severely compacted this way thus preventing any air to reach the roots. In addition, leaks of fuels and oils from the equipment also would damage the roots. In short time the trees would die.
Urban Forester, Oscar Mestas, was ecstatic over the protection of the trees. In an email distributed this afternoon, Mr. Mestas wrote:
"I want to give major big KUDOS to the El Paso Parks Department. I have been here 18 years and this is a first. Other than what Sun Metro did back in 1998 to protect the State Champion Aleppo Pine tree downtown, I have never seen fencing around mature trees on a construction site. This simple easy step is doing great things to protect the root zones of these trees.This is in my opinion a major milestone. It looks to me that El Paso is making great strides in public tree care."
Kudos to Parks and Recreation led by Nanette Smejkal and to Sam Calhoun.
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