As part of the 2016 Fountain Square Improvement Project, the city decided to plant a permanent tree within the Fountain Square complex. The hope was that a permanent tree would be more ecologically practical and alleviate having to cut down and import a new tree each year for the Christmas tree lighting and other festivities.
“The intent was to select a location that was accessible for holiday activities, but not in the middle of a public plaza space where it might impede other activities,” wrote Stefanie Levine, a senior project manager in the city’s Public Works Agency, in a recent email. “The south end of the south plaza appeared to be a suitable location during the design effort.”
In 2018, the first tree decorated the site. The site chosen was based on “visual impacts, access, and aesthetic considerations,” wrote Levine.
Unfortunately the site selected for the tree has not been conducive to permanent plant life. Two trees, first a spruce and then another evergreen, deterioratedover time due to severe wind and the effects of salt spray during snow operations.
“Wind patterns and salt spray were discussed in general, but a specific study to examine wind patterns or salt spray at this exact location was not performed,” Levine said via email.
Now you don’t: The city’s holiday tree is missing in this recent photo of the south end of Fountain Square. Credit: Ian Mitchell
Wind tunnel effect
Michael Callahan, assistant director of Parks and Recreation, explained in an email that the site is inside a wind tunnel during the winter months. But for both trees placed there, the wind, most prominently on the trees’ west side, exacerbated the trees’ needles drying (desiccation), dying and falling off.
“Another aspect was that during snow operations salt spray would fall on the needles and this would accelerate the desiccation,” Callahan wrote. “There is no raised curb at the area and this allows salt brine to wash into the area, which creates issues as well for the treeand landscape.”
Public Works crews tried to protect the trees by treating surrounding soil with biochar, gypsum and root biostimulant to mitigate salt damage.
New Zimmerman Financial Art 8/8/22
Workers watered the trees to alleviate water stress, wrapped the bottom portions of the trees in burlap and installed silt fencing around them for protection against salt spray splashes and runoff from cars. Starting in early fall and throughout the winter, staff also applied anti-desiccation treatments to the needles.
Despite many creative and heroic efforts, ultimately the second tree suffered the fate of the first and could not be saved. City workers removed it, presumably to grind for composting. Hopefully it will help other gardens in its afterlife.
Public Works staff have suggested that the city discontinue efforts to grow a tree in this particular spot. No one has suggested an alternative site at the time of publication.