BROOKINGS The tree population in Brookings is facing numerous challenges as of late, including battling multiple diseases, but now its also dealing with an entirely avoidable problem: People who are intentionally killing them.
The topic came up at last weeks City Council meeting, where Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Kristin Zimmerman told the councilors about a 3-year-old boulevard tree that was killed in the 800 block of Fourth Street on Aug. 24 because people were hanging and pulling on it.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, she said. Last year we experienced about 20 trees lost with similar damage, with an estimated cost to the city of about $10,000.
Heres the rub: That total, in trees and dollars, only accounts for the damage and destruction on public property. By the time you factor in private property considerations, as was pointed out by Councilor Holly Tilton Byrne, the overall cost is much higher.
The Brookings Police Department is looking for information as well in the Aug. 24 incident which, per Brookings Area Crime Stoppers, occurred between 1 and 2 a.m.
If a person would like to provide information regarding the suspects and not remain anonymous, contact the BPD at 605-692-2113.
For someone who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward from BACS, submit the tip by contacting BACS at 605-692-STOP (7876), www.brookingsareacrimestoppers.com or through the P3TIPS app.
If the BACS tip leads to the arrest of the suspect(s), the tipper might be eligible for a cash reward from BACS.
Zimmerman went beyond the dollars-and-cents angle as well, pointing out the various benefits provided by the citys tree population.
Its not just about the financial impact; its also about the environmental impact, she said. Trees are one of the iconic elements of what makes our city great they provide shade in the summer months, improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, support wildlife habitat and increase property values.
She further noted that, Beyond these practical benefits, trees also create welcoming public spaces and contribute to the overall character and beauty of Brookings. For residents, this means cooler neighborhoods, cleaner air to breathe, safer and more attractive streets, (and) healthier spaces for children and families to gather.
For future generations, it means leaving behind a community that is greener, more resilient and more enjoyable to live in, Zimmerman concluded.
She said her forestry team is already hard at work managing a multiplicity of diseases such as emerald ash borer, dutch elm and pine wilt that are attacking trees in and around Brookings.
So having healthy trees purposefully destroyed is both disheartening and unacceptable in my eyes, Zimmerman said. The good news is that Brookings is a community that truly values our trees. Most residents care deeply about protecting and preserving them.
She said several city departments are working together to raise awareness, monitor park and boulevard areas, and share reminders with the public about the value of trees, and the long-term impacts of losing them.
Staff are also reviewing strategies to prevent and address this type of damage moving forward, Zimmerman said. Were hopeful that by working together, we can continue to grow a community where trees thrive, families enjoy their shade and future generations inherit a stronger and greener Brookings.
As the discussion wrapped up, Tilton Byrne praised Zimmerman for her departments work.
I appreciate the work thats being done to raise awareness around this and to replant trees when this damage is happening, she said. Thank you to you and your team. These trees really do make a difference for the beauty of our community.
Tree-planting vouchers available
When it comes to planting trees, autumn is hard to beat in terms of being a good time to plant and, even better, the city of Brookings has $14,000 in rebates available to help with that.
The fall time is one of the best times to plant trees, City Manager Paul Briseno said at last weeks City Council meeting. Please, if youre interested, check out our parks website, come and see (Zimmerman); shed love to talk to you more about planting trees.
Per information from the city, residents can receive up to $125 for a tree in the front yard, and up to $100 for a tree in a side yard or back yard. The process works like this:
- Plant your tree.
- Bring your receipt to the PRF office in suite 130 at the Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St.
- Walk out with a check.
The rebates are available on a first come, first serve basis until the $14,000 has been spent.
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