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Downtown Tree Plantings Start March 7

City Tree Board March 3, 2011 - Integrity Lawn and Landscaping, Inc., a contractor for the City of Knoxville will start planting trees in 54 locations throughout the Central Business Improvement District (CBID) starting the week of March 7, 2011. The trees will be planted using funds from the city's downtown improvement fund. Users and residents of downtown will notice the work, which includes the removal of several existing diseased trees, throughout March. The location and tree species for each location is listed below. Carol R. Johnson and Associates (CRJA) donated technical assistance to the City's Public Service Department in identifying the best species based on each site.

City of Knoxville Downtown Tree Locations: ADDRESS LOCATION SPECIES TYPE COMMON NAME 420 Clinch Ave Across from YMCA (1) Ulmus parvifolia ‘UPMTF’ Bosque Lacebark Elm 503 Clinch Ave Across from downtown parking (1) Zelkova serrata ‘ZSFKF’ Japanese Zelkova 335 Clinch Ave Across from Tattoo shop (1) Zelkova serrata ‘ZSFKF’ Japanese Zelkova 406 Church Ave Across from Ely Building (2) Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Shademaster’ Thornless Honey Locust Krutch Park Near seating area (1) Oxydendron arboretum Sourwood (1) Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’ Round Lobed Sweetgum 301 Wall Across from TVA Credit Union (3) Betula nigra ‘BNMTF’ River Birch Summitt Hill at 300 Gay St Open media space by fence (2) Quercus phellos ‘Hightower’ Hightower Willow Oak (2) Quercus phellos ‘QPMTF’ Wynstar Willow Oak Summit Median Between Gay and State (1) Lagerstroemia indica Crepe Myrtle Summitt Hill Median Near intersection with Walnut (1) Koelreutaria paniculata Golden Raintree State St Between Commerce & Gay (1) Quercus phellos ‘QPMTF’ Wynstar Willow Oak (1) Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ Littleleaf Linden 131 Central Near Crown & Goose (1) Acer buergeranum ‘ABMTF’ Aeryn Trident Maple Henley Street (Heading North) Behind Chesapeake’s (7) Gingko biloba ‘Autumn Gold’   Autumn Gold Gingko (6) Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum Henley Median Between Convention & UT Bldg (2) Cornus kousa  Kousa Dogwood (1) Chionanthus virginicus Fringe Tree Henley Median Between Cumberland & Main (1) Cornus kousa Kousa Dogwood (2) Chionanthus virginicus Fringe Tree Henley St In front of holiday inn (3) Gingko biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ Autumn Gold Gingko (2) Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum 710, 714, 718 Gay St   (3) Ulmus parvifolia ‘UPMTF’ Bosque Lacebark Elm 300 block of Walnut St Across from Wall to Summitt Hill (3) Quercus robur ‘Regal Prince’ Regal Prince Oak (3) Quercus robur ‘Walkenbach’ Adeline Oak Corner of Gay and Wall Near Traffic Control Box (1) Acer rubrum 'Karpick' Karpick Red Maple Locust Street Across from YMCA (1) Carpinus betulus ‘Streetwise’ Streetwise Hornbeam TOTAL LOCATIONS 54

"Trees are assets with both monetary and social value to the built environment. They add to the character of downtown, provide cooling shade, habitat for wildlife and help define our streets and public spaces," said David Brace, deputy director of the City of Knoxville's Public Service Department. "With the assistance of CRJA, we hope to get the most appropriate trees planted in each of these locations." CRJA, in partnership with Public Service Department and building upon their 2009 and 2010 Legacy Tree Fund donation, volunteered its consultation and technical services by developing a master tree species list and performance specifications. The City and specifically the CBID have lost a number of large canopy trees in recent years due to a combination of age and a significant drought in 2007-2008. Downtown is also a significantly harsher environment for trees to thrive due to confined tree pits with limited soil volume, pet waste and constant interactions with vehicles. The Public Service Department has a Horticulture Division that includes a fulltime tree crew responsible for maintenance and care of trees located in the city's right-of-ways, parks and green spaces. The group normally plants between 350 and 425 new trees each year via a contractor. Knoxville has been designated as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 19 consecutive years in recognition of its commitment to urban forestry and its active tree board. The City Tree Board is a volunteer citizen panel that promotes good public tree maintenance, plantings and education. For more information about the City Tree Board please visit: www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/treeboard.

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