As summer progresses, rainfalls included, more tree branches have been falling throughout the City of Beacon. The water is draining slowly into the ground, and Friday night, at least two major tree branches fell in Memorial Park. One in front of the Highway Department hut, and the other near a baseball field and where the volleyball players set up nets. Mothers often sit beneath those trees nursing their babies or spreading a picnic lunch.

The last fallen tree branch that A Little Beacon Blog reported on was on Beekman Street at the base of the lawn of the Hammond Plaza community, not even a month ago on July 30th. The year prior to that, an entire tree fell further down the sidewalk block of that lawn.

Last week, two iconic trees were removed by arborists at the Beacon City School District track, along Verplanck at Mattawan.

Does The City Of Beacon Have A Tree Management Plan?

This tree near electrical wires with dead branches is at the Beacon Bears Football field in Memorial Park.

The City of Beacon has been designated a “Tree City.” Mayor Kyriacou is strongly advocating for the development of the Rail Trail through Beacon, which will bring more tourists, but will disrupt land usage here by private landowners and businesses who lease land and will lose their parking lot.

Use of the public parks such as Memorial Park and Green Street Park have been increasing with volunteer based sports recreation leagues of all ages, and kids activities, such as the Kid Day Camp that the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department hosted at Memorial Park. Not to mention the new free movie screenings also from the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department through a partnership with Story Screen. And of course, the gathering for the 4th of July fireworks.

The City of Beacon does have a Tree Advisory Committee who in theory is assigned with tasks, but the Committee has not presented to City Council in some time, unless it is having a public ceremony to plant a tree along Main Street or other designated spot, or to carry out their successful backyard tree program.

According to the City of Beacon’s website, the Tree Advisory Committee is responsible for the following items. It is unknown at this time if the Tree Advisory Committee has made recommendations to Mayor Kyriacou or former City Administrator Chris White or current City Administrator Ben Swanson about regular tree pruning work, to be on the offense with aging trees.

Making recommendations to City Staff regarding removal, pruning, or planting of public trees;
Maintenance of a citywide inventory of trees in public spaces;
Development of a Tree Master Plan for the City of Beacon;
Promotion of tree maintenance citywide, and educating the citizens of Beacon about the benefits and care of trees as well as threats to tree health;
Organizing an annual Arbor Day celebration (this is a requirement of being designated a “Tree City”);
Assisting various City departments regarding issues of tree planting, removal, and replacement throughout Beacon.

The fallen tree branch further into Memorial Park by the baseball field is one of the older trees. Next to that older line of trees, baby trees have been planted, perhaps to replace the aging trees beside them.