Preservation of our Park
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2008
Recently several volunteers and both Grounds Board Members worked in our park trimming trees and removing 32 Scotch Pines. The pines are susceptible to Pine Wilt disease. This disease is caused by the Pine Wilt Nematode (a parasitic type of worm) that is carried by Pine Sawyer Beetles. Once a tree is attacked, needles will yellow and then turn brown in just a few short weeks and quickly die. The disease can affect both healthy and stressed trees. There is basically no cure for this disease and the only means of management is to remove the trees. You may have already noticed many random areas of dead or dying Scotch Pines in Missouri and Kansas. The Missouri Conservation Dept. recommends first, not to plant Scotch Pines, also called Scots Pines, and second, to remove them now before they become too large and costly to remove. Twenty-one healthy pines still remain in the park and will be watched closely for any evidence of this disease. Some may beat the odds.

However, prior to removing the pines 33 new hardwood trees were planted in the park. There now is a mix of maples and oaks among the existing native trees and remaining pines. Cleveland Pears were also planted along the street. The maples and oaks should show some beautiful fall color in the future. Take a walk in the park and see.