The City Urban Environmental Department (UED) is scheduled to begin Phase 1 of a Tree Replacement Project on Medical Center Parkway from Gateway Blvd. to Warren Street in early 2016. Phase 1 replaces 20 Red Maples with Princeton Elms on the south side of Medical Center Parkway directly across from St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital.

"The Medical Center Parkway Street Tree Replacement Project is in keeping with the City's overall program of treatment, removal and replacement of trees that suffer from diseases or insects and environmental factors," said Assistant UED Director Kane Adams. "The Red Maples were heavily damaged during the excessive heat of the summer of 2012. Reflective heat from the pavement and thin bark caused the Maples to spilt open and decline rapidly."

Princeton Elms are resistant to Dutch elm disease and very drought tolerant. Phase I begins Monday, January 4, 2016, with tree removal. A date for installation of the new trees is expected prior to February, weather-permitting. Phase 2 of the Medical Center Parkway Street Tree Replacement Project will include the replacement of 18 Red Maples and another two groups of six Red Maples along the north side of Medical Center Parkway during the winter of 2016-17. All new trees were selected and tagged by the UED certified arborist.

In previous years, UED has replaced trees in both the historic downtown business district and at the Oaklands Historic House Museum on property maintained by the City. UED makes careful assessments of trees for implementing long-term treatment, removal and replacement of trees.