Noblesville reader: city should spend resources to remove invasive trees, not cut down healthy trees

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Dear Editor:

This is in response to the letter from Tom Roberts regarding the Noblesville City tree actions.

Neither Roberts nor the City have mentioned much about the invasive species Bradford Pear. At the turn of the century, many of the new developments planted the Bradford Pear. It grows fast and has a fortnight of beauty in the spring. It also has a very weak structure; the various limbs tend to split off. More recently, I think the nurseries have been limited in selling them.

Twenty-some years ago, the City acquired crop fields at the corner of State Road 38 and Hauge Road to extend Hauge Road on south to SR 32. Some park facilities have been constructed, but little attention has been paid to the invasive species. Canada thistles and a newer Cutleaf Teasel thrive. And anyone who drives by the corner in the spring has noticed the beauty of the “nursery” for the Bradford Pears on the northeast corner.

I doubt that the city was named Tree City because of the pears, more likely in spite of the pears. The pears in the developments have a short life span and are not likely to be replaced with pears. The branches may start splitting off before the roots raise the sidewalks. No such limits will occur in the city parks, where the pears have been reproducing geometrically.

The city would better earn their Tree City award by attacking the blight in their parks rather than removing the self-destructing shade in the developments.

Carl Holl
Noblesville