The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Arbor Day was celebrated on April 28 by the township’s Shade Tree Commission with the planting of the final tree in the Middlebush Park “re-greening” program.
The commission, in conjunction with the township Department of Public Works and Parks Department has planted 325 trees over the last two years, said commission chairperson Sara Malone.
The types of trees planted included Red Maple, Oak, Sweet Gum and Weeping Willow, she said.
The final tree planted on Arbor Day was a Red Maple, she said.
“Its been a great effort and we’re in the middle of doing similar projects at Inman Park, Naaman Williams Park” and along JFK Boulevard and Hamilton Street, she said.
Malone said the commission is also concerned about the Emerald Ash Bore, which has been seen in the township. If Ash trees are not treated, the bore will kill them, she said.
“We estimate that 10 percent of the trees in Franklin Township are ash trees, and if they’re not treated by the homeowner, they will die,” she said. “The township will not treat them, it would be too expensive.”
She said a consultant has been hired, with the help of a state grant, to see how may trees are affected and where they are.
Malone said the commission’s goal is to have 42 percent of the township covered by trees.
“We’re at 39 percent now,” she said. Because of the Emerald Ash Bore, “we will lose 10 percent of trees, so we have a lot of work to do.”
