A CENTURY PLUS OF URBAN RE-LEAF

City-wide urban forestry in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the function of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Established in the 1880s, the Board passed an ordinance pertaining to planting shade trees and defining the city forester's duties in 1887, and in 1888 adopted an ordinance to regulate the planting and preservation of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery in the streets, alleys, and public grounds of Minneapolis. Financing the tree program was accomplished by special taxes and assessment laws. As costs for planting and maintenance increased, poorer neighborhoods, where trees were usually most needed, could not afford the special assessments. In 1969 a state bill passed providing for planting and maintenance of trees through consolidation of tax levies and the issuance of general bond obligations, and the establishing of a tree preservation and reforestation fund. The current tree budget amounts to about $6 million annually. It reached an all time high of over $10 million in 1977 during the height of the Dutch elm disease infestation. This article provides additional information on the organization and training of forestry personnel and describes the eight basic types of work operations in the Minneapolis program. These include mature tree maintenance, tree removal, stump removal, small tree maintenance, reforestation, insect and disease control, inspection and surveys, and preventive maintenance and minor storms.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Authors:
  • DeVoto, D F
• Publication Date: 1990-3

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 40-42
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 121
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Financing; Maintenance; Maintenance management; Maintenance practices; Roadside; Training; Trees
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Geographic Terms: Minneapolis (Minnesota)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Education and Training; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491759
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM