A tree grows in Burbank

Laura Sturza

When Jeanne Carino gave birth to her son Joel in March, she and

her husband wanted to celebrate the event by planting a tree in front

of their home.

The city of Burbank helped them do it by sending forestry service

workers Dan Deagon and Harold “Woody” Woods to plant a Chinese Flame

Tree in front of the family’s house Wednesday. The new parents heard

of the city’s program when their Spazier Avenue block had several new

trees sprout up in recent weeks.

“There are a lot of little kids, and a lot of families in the

neighborhood got trees recently,” Carino said.

The Tree Stewardship Program -- run by the Parks, Recreation and

Community Services Department since the early 1990s -- provides the

labor, and in some instances the trees, for commercial- and

residential-property owners. Its purpose is to encourage property

owners to plant trees, Forestry Services Manager Jeff Zoumbaris said.

The Carinos paid $30 for their tree, which was planted in the

parkway, the city-owned grassy area separating the sidewalk from the

street, in front of their home.

“People are happy to see trees. Trees are life,” Woods said. “I

planted a tree the other day [to commemorate] someone who passed

away.”

Trees selected must meet the city’s Street Tree Master Plan, which

calls for certain varieties in certain areas, and must be placed an

adequate distance from one another to allow them room to grow,

Zoumbaris said. About 65 trees have been planted this year, and it

typically takes about one month for requests to be fulfilled by the

division. The program aims to put 100 trees in the ground each year.

Trees offer shade and oxygen, reduce smog and absorb noise,

workers said.

Woods, an eight-year city staff veteran, added another personal

benefit they offer for him -- job security. With more than 35,000

trees for the 18-person crew to maintain, the department is kept

busy.

Pruning 250 ficus trees on Magnolia Boulevard was a physically

demanding project they completed last month.

For information about the city’s planting program, call 238-5304.