HOLLIDAYSBURG - Three different tree species will replace several trees removed recently along Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg.
The Hollidaysburg Shade Tree Commission picked the species Zelkova, Celebration Maples and Scarlet Sentinel Maples to replace several trees the borough removed in February.
The commission collected some information on different trees and had a discussion on the matter during its meeting Monday. Mark Maser of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry attended the meeting to offer advice to the commission.
Chairman Terry Wilt was absent from the meeting.
Several of the trees removed were Bradford Pear trees, which caused a mess when it would flower in the spring and its berries would drop, and the others were maple trees that had died.
"We know there's no such thing as a perfect tree," commission member Kasey Prokop said, noting that the commission had to consider trees based on certain criteria such as height and width and the litter they would create, she said.
Commission member Joel Koss wanted to consider other trees than those picked, but said it was OK because he was out voted. He declined to say what kind of tree he wanted after the meeting.
Vice-chairman Dave Zeek said a crew began digging out the tree stumps Monday and found that some of the trees' roots had entangled with water and gas lines.
"We have to space these [new] trees much differently," he said.
Weather permitting, the stumps will be removed before the end of the week, Zeek said.
Prokop said the leaves changing colors on some of the replacement trees in the fall will make a "nice trade off," especially during the borough's Pumpkin Festival held annually in October, for the loss of the pear trees that bloomed in the spring.
The trees on the 500 block will be planted on April 29, which is Arbor Day, at 11 a.m. The borough will also plant trees in the Holliday Hills area May 7 as part of a Tree Vitalize grant.
Volunteers to help with the plantings are needed for both days.
No one from the audience spoke out during public comment, but Allegheny Street resident Carol Stevens said later in the meeting it would be "tragic" not to have the trees in the "unique" and "beautiful" Hollidaysburg community.
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.
