ANDERSON — The city of Anderson is counting the number of trees and the species on all city-owned property.
The Davey Resource Group of Indianapolis has been counting the trees at all the city-owned parks. It has completed work at Grandview Municipal Golf Course, Shadyside Memorial Park and several other parks.
Ryan McCartney, urban forester with Davey, said Tuesday the work is being done in four phases. He said the work will include all the city parks and along the city’s right of way along streets.
“We’re counting the number of trees and species to determine the health and diversity of the urban forests,” he said. “The city can use the data for a number of reasons including liability, hazards and budget planning.”
The survey includes diameter, value and location of each tree using aerial maps and GPS systems.
McCartney said the information can be used for community involvement and the data can be shared with the public.
“There is a good diversity in the parks,” he said. “Shadyside is the most diverse of all the parks.”
As part of the October “Trees in our Neighborhood” program, the Park Department is locating 25 trees to be part of a self-guided tour for area residents.
Greg Spencer, certified arborist with the city, said the trees will be identified and can assist the schools that are doing leaf collection projects.
McCartney pointed out a hardy rubber tree in Shadyside Park.
“You don’t see a species like this every day,” he said.
Spencer said there are several pawpaw or Indiana banana trees located in Shadyside Park.
“It’s our hidden treasure,” he said of the location.
The first phase took place in 2010 when 4,700 trees were counted; another 4,000 trees are being counted during the current phase.
Stephon Blackwell, superintendent of Anderson Parks & Recreation Department, said the information will assist the city in planting trees for more diversity in the future.
“We want to plant more trees that are native to Indiana,” he said.
Spencer said the tree inventory was funded by a $12,500 grant from the federal government administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The tree inventory will tell the Parks Department which trees are at high risk and should be taken down and which are treatable, he said.
He said the city is determining how many ash trees have been affected by the ash borer and the information will be used to determine how many ash trees can be treated.
“We’ve never done an inventory of trees,” Spencer said. “An inventory of the Rangeline Nature Preserve is important if the Mounds Reservoir project takes place. We need to know the value of those hardwoods.”