Parks & Recreation partners with Tree Trust to address emerald ash borers
Beginning this month, crews will start to remove 400 ash trees located at designated Ramsey County Parks & Recreation sites, including parks, golf courses and arena parking lots. The project will prevent further spread of emerald ash borers (EAB), an invasive species that damages and kills ash trees.
Parks & Recreation has partnered with Tree Trust, a Minnesota-based nonprofit, to plant 400 new trees of varying species, thanks to a unique funding opportunity that provides the replacement trees at no cost to the county.
Contractors will begin their work at Battle Creek Regional Park, Beaver Lake County Park and Turtle Lake County Park. Signage will be made available on site as removal dates are confirmed.
The restoration project is part of the department's ash tree management plan, which includes a system-wide inventory and proposes to proactively remove or replace priority ash trees, starting at sites nearest EAB infested areas. This approach was found to be the most cost-effective measure and allows for work to be done in phases.
Learn more about the ash tree management plan