HORTICULTURE
Tree Maintenance Program

Seattle Parks and Recreation Department's Tree Maintenance Program maintains the health and safety of trees through out the City's park system. As with the Urban Forest Restoration Program the Department has gained important new resources to help maintain our urban forest canopy. Along with the maintenance of trees inside the City's parks and boulevards, the Tree Crews respond to citizen inquires regarding trees along the boundary of Parks, hazard tree reviews from staff and citizens, and a significant number of tree health and care questions from the general public.

A new Tree Crew, funded by the Pro Parks Levy, will be starting in early 2002. This crew will join two other highly skilled crews working on hazard tree reduction, health and safety pruning, general tree maintenance, and public viewpoint maintenance. There are currently four International Society of Aboriculture Certified Arborists within the program. Ongoing training in proper pruning, safety, and new equipment sharpen the already well established skills of the crews. In addition, other new funding through the Pro Parks Bond Levy, has allowed the Department to purchase equipment that will aid in the rapid recycling of logs and chips the crews produce.

There are also two new programs within the Tree Maintenance Program. The Hazard Tree Reduction Project and a new type of crew to the Parks Department, the Natural Area Maintenance Crew. The Hazard Tree Project was created to address significant trees that are outside the safe operational capabilities of the Tree Crews. These large trees require the use of highly specialized equipment.

The Natural Area Crew will address the specific needs found in our Open Spaces and Natural Areas. The Natural Area Crew will work on a multitude of tasks, from cleanup of refuse to supporting volunteer trail and forestry projects on the weekends. This crew represents a commitment by the Parks and Recreation Department and the City to revitalizing our green infrastructure.

If you have any question regarding the Tree Crew or the Natural Area Crew or any question regarding trees in Seattle's parks contact:

Mark Mead, Senior Urban Forester
(206) 684-4113 | Mark.Mead@seattle.gov