300 Trees to Be Planted in Town Center Area
Crews are set to start planting nearly 300 tipuana tipu trees in Town Center next week as part of a downtown beautification and renewal project.
The first of the yellow-blossomed South American trees, commonly referred to as tipu trees, will be along Del Prado Street near Street of the Blue Lantern.
The trees will be installed in irrigated tree wells surrounded by ivy geraniums.
Sidewalk improvements will also be part of the project, said Morton F. August, director of public works.
Under the city’s tree plan, the tipu trees will be placed throughout the Town Center area in the next several weeks.
Last year, the City Council voted to spend about $55,000 for the trees as part of a $580,000 downtown revitalization program. Officials hoped the trees would make the area more attractive to shoppers and tourists and create a pedestrian-friendly environment.
“I think it’s going to be a beautiful asset to the community,” Mayor William L. Ossenmacher said. “It’s something I have been working on for eight years.”
The tree planting is the first phase of a 15-year, $10-million project.
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