November 30,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, UPDATE: A report from an certified arborist has been received and reviewed by Village officials. The report indicates that the tree has a void approximately 8 feet long, extending from above ground into the tree’s underground root system. The arborist’s report recommends immediate removal of the tree citing the possibility that all of the tree, or significant portions of it, could be severely damaged and/or fall to the ground during a major storm event. Based on this report, the tree is still scheduled for removal during the first week of December.
Mike Sedon , ” This is something that nobody really wants to do, but unfortunately it has to be done for safety reasons. It’s a prominent and important tree, and I’ve been an advocate for not only planting more trees but also maintaining what we have. With more focus on maintenance of our existing trees we might find that some older, larger trees must come down, but if we continue with a robust replacement program the over all canopy will be maintained in the Village.”
Well cue up the tree huggers and self-anointed arborists who will claim that the tree is healthy.
Hey 7:10 maybe the Village can put a couple of commuter parking space there with a toll bridge.
What about a concerned resident being given permission to actually look at report and see how the evidence was acquired, and visit tree with arborist and see if evidence of hollow is apparent and if it REALLY leads to root system, or if this is a so-called “educated guess.” A council person could accompany the arborist and concerned resident. There are ancient sycamores in my neighborhood that are deemed healthy.
The hollow may not be around the whole trunk , but just in one area. Trees fight for their lives and reinforce their trunks. There are trees in my neighbors yard that have huge hollows on front lawn and do not fall down.
Does anyone know how old the trees just curious thank you
Agree with 7:46, that tree is not going anywhere…if they leave it alone it’ll still be here in 2065…
Graydon Park is an open public space. Those who are in doubt of details provided within the certified arborist’s report should feel free to visit the tree themselves and make an inspection/take photographs/videos. And/or, file an OPRA request for a copy of the report.
That patch of land has to be the least tread by humans in the entire village. It’s been perpetually fertilized for most of a century by winged fauna busily marking their territory! Beautiful tree though, and quite prominent due to its unique and tranquil setting. If it truly must be removed, it ought to be for grave reasons of safety only. Its loss will be felt by many thousands of longtime residents.
If the tree can only fall during a storm then there is no risk to humans. Nobody is in Graydon during cold season and if there is a summer storm nobody would be there either. Let the tree die on its own terms do not kill it. It is eye catching for anyone that drives/walks through the Rodgewood. Picture perfect and a landmark. I bet if given a chance it will still be there long after anyone in this blog is gone.
how much money is being paid to the contractor to remove this tree?
The tree will be removed by Village employees, not a contractor.
The tree is beautiful and it is sad news. The idea that the tree should remain and allowed to die on its own seems a bit risky. I’ve been at the pond when there’s no rain but wind during the summer so not sure I’d want my children (or me for that matter) swimming near it if its in danger of falling.
Cut it down and build a big garage in its place !! LOL
If you are going to knock the tree down let’s upgrade the pool and get rid of the old
leaking pool we have. What an eye sore. No one uses the pool anyways it’s upgraded so people can enjoy it.
Village employees chopping it down? Is that true? But Downs is chopping Schedler at council’s request. So I bet Downs Tree Service is chopping down the Sycamore at Graydon. I would NEVER use Downs; they do not tell you the truth.
To chop a large tree down DOWNS, the company gets several grand. three or four thousand, maybe more. REALLY!
I am afraid to recommend that wonderful book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wollenben to the Village council. It hurts too much to have them ignore my suggestion. One point book makes is DO NOT PLANT trees in planters in CBD business sections. Even if tree survives, it won’t thrive as it would in the forest. It will never be natural and beautiful lookin. Trees don’t belong in planters along sidewalks. The book also explains how trees heal themselves and communicate through root system and in times of drought actually irrigate one another. tons of fascinating information. Few people really want to learn something new and apply it. Especially town council people who either react to loudest voices of public and are full of arrogance because they are on town council. So they think planting trees in planters will lure me to CBD. NO, just the opposite.
Step ,1 Part A in the plan to turn Graydon into a concrete paradise.
Yes cut the tree down and redo that swap.
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P.S. Anyone wishing to endorse this proposal (a second opinion) can reach the Village Manager by calling Village Hall at 201-670-5500 ext. 201 or via email at hmailander@ridgewoodnj.net. If this interests you, please don’t wait.
Is Dom posting from the grave.
Leave the tree alone, but build a pool that people will actually use and build it far enough from the tree.
Marcia, give it up. They have more than one professional opinion. You do not even go to Graydon. People who do go to Graydon do not want a rotting tree to come crashing down on them or their children. For heaven’s sake, it is a tree. They die eventually. A new and healthy one will replace it. I appreciate that the Village is doing the right thing on this.
Last night I submitted three comments separately. Only the last one appeared (making no sense of its “P.S.”) I asked about this and was informed that the spam filter has been acting up. PJ asked me to send them again. Here they are:
Interesting that this announcement appeared the day after I submitted an OPRA request for the arborist’s report. Here is my argument: Is it possible that this is all accurate and the tree poses a danger? Sure. But if your doctor says, “There’s nothing I can do; you’re dying,” do you buy a cemetery plot or seek a second opinion? Rutgers has an expert in every county and the one in Hackensack might conceivably agree to look at the sycamore. This is not just any tree, but one that has been admired, photographed, and painted by residents and others for many decades. The decision to cut it down would feel a lot more valid if confirmed by another tree expert. If Rutgers can’t do it, the town can pay for it. An expert arborist has agreed to do a complete report for $750. That is only $50 more than was spent in tax money to create a video that has now been officially deemed an ethical failure. Our sycamore deserves a second opinion. It will hardly be free to take it down. Having a professional written report in the records would help to protect the village in case of an accident. When the town talks about safety, what percentage of that is fear of liability?
8:25 AM, regarding the age of the tree: the Ridgewood Library’s local history section has photos of the sycamore taken before the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the stone wall around the periphery of the Graydon swimming area and a smaller version of the wall around the tree island. (There used to be two such islands with trees along the Linwood Avenue side; one was removed when the swimming area was formalized from its earlier swimmin’-hole past.) The WPA also built the Skaters Shelter, now used as the badge office and food concession but intended as a place to warm one’s toes while ice skating. The cornerstone of that building, located in the lower right corner as you face the door to the badge office, says “1936.” The angles at which the sycamore’s limbs are extended in both old and more recent photos make it clear that the same tree has been there all along, watching Ridgewood go by for over 80 years and perhaps far more. Let’s give it a second look before we knock it down.
P.S. Anyone wishing to endorse this proposal (a second opinion) can reach the Village Manager by calling Village Hall at 201-670-5500 ext. 201 or via email at hmailander@ridgewoodnj.net. If this interests you, please don’t wait.
Give it up. The tree is dying and is a hazard. I also agree with 11:42. Time to update the pond to a more modern facility.
This was a truly entertaining thread to read while killing time in the airport. I can’t believe people get all bent out of shape about a tree when we have far more serious matters to worry about in our world at the moment. Anyone see the stump? We are fortunate the town had the common sense to remove the hazard before the pool was fillled and it became a more costly project to pursue. Good job by the parks department. I’m sure they’ll replace it with something just as nice that we can enjoy for years to come.