The Common Council Economic Development Committee meets tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall. One of the topics of discussion will be the City of Hudson's 2013 Community Development Block Grant application. This is the second meeting intended to solicit ideas about what Hudson should seek CDBG funding for this year.
At the previous meeting, the leitmotif was sidewalks, although trees and the Ferry Street bridge were mentioned as well. For tonight's meeting, Sheena Salvino, executive director at the Hudson Development Corporation, has distilled that discussion into three "potential application ideas":
- Hudson North: Tree Planting & Greenspace
- Connective sidewalks: Columbia Street
- Ferry Street Bridge
Related to the first idea are two other projects that have been announced in the past. The first is the linear park proposed by the PARC Foundation, meant to create a swath of green space, running north and south at about the middle of the 300 block, connecting Warren Street with State Street.
The last we heard of this project, which was first proposed as a stand-alone project in 2010, was in May 2012, when Megan Wurth of the PARC Foundation and architect Fred Tang made a presentation at a Common Council meeting. It was expected then that construction drawings would be ready in July 2012 and work on the linear park would proceed from there, but a year has passed and there has been no further word. The fact that all the property in Hudson owned by PARC Foundation founder, David Deutsch, is now for sale doesn't seem to bode well for the future of the linear park.
Also related to planting trees is the "Environment Initiative and Tree Planting Program" announced by the Galvan Foundation last October. Part of this was a "renewed commitment" to planting thirty trees every planting season. A planting season is upon us, but there has been no further word about this initiative.
All this is to suggest that tree planting and planning for green space should probably be less patchwork and more coordinated. The "build-up part" of Hudson is less than a square mile. Would it be possible to develop a scheme for tree planting that involves the whole city--one that takes into account the trees that are already there and builds on that? Once a grand design were established, the Galvan Foundation might be willing to participate in its implementation, and additional trees could be planted with grant money awarded to the City. Any plan for planting trees should probably also take into consideration the need for a strategy to defend or remove and replace the ash trees that were planted almost exclusively during Urban Renewal, especially along North Front Street, and are now being threatened by the emerald ash borer.
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In regards to tree planting, I would also strongly suggest that the City review its required tree well size in order to maintain strong tree health. When I was involved with planting trees along Second, Third, State and Columbia streets we weren't allowed to cut more than a small square, I believe it was 30"x30". As you can imagine, this is not much room for water, air and nutriments to get down to the tree roots. Most other cities allow a more generous 48" x 48" and some, such as NYC have gone to a minimum size of 48" x 120". For reference the NYC planting guide is available on line at http://www.nycgovparks.org/permits/trees/standards.pdf
ReplyDeleteTim
Excellent point TL.
ReplyDeleteThere's also a citizen's task force which Gossips did not mention.
This task force is dedicated to planting NATIVE tree species in Hudson.
Entirely limited to the 1st Ward (but for no good reason), this task force has already had several in-person meetings with a representative at the DEC tree grant program.
The question of native versus non-native flora is a subject which should not be entrusted to either Mr. Galloway or to the city which he is increasingly coming to possess.
Residents should also be aware that the number of ash trees in Hudson is much greater than anyone seems to realize; the number "26" only applies to street-side ashes.