FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Maisel, Director of Communications, City of Harrisburg
[email protected]
(717) 255-7295
HARRISBURG — Springtime is about to see a little extra beauty in parts of the city.
City of Harrisburg Parks and Recreation crews, alongside partners with PP&L Electric, are cutting down dead and dying trees along Market Street between Cameron and 15th Street. Some of the trees have been home to invasive species, as well.
About 30 trees in all will be removed, many of which were planted beneath power lines, and have been repeatedly topped to provide clearance.
Taking down of the trees started on Wednesday, March 16 and will last into Friday, March 18. They will be replaced with about 50 vibrant cherry trees. A planting date has not been set, though Parks and Rec officials hope to start in late April.
“These trees were not supposed to be planted in this area,” said Sasha Ross, Parks Maintenance Supervisor. “Now we won’t have to cut around power lines and make the trees look uneven.”
The project is of zero extra cost to city residents and the property owners in the area. PP&L Electric is volunteering their time to cut down the trees, and the city will haul logs away.
The goal is to ultimately contribute to the increasing tree canopy cover across Harrisburg, which will help improve air quality and reduce cooling costs. The natural beauty of the area will also help property values increase.
“Any time you see a street full of beautiful trees, it’s something spectacular,” Ross said. “It makes you smile, or at least, I know I smile, so I’m pretty sure city residents will love to see it as well.”
Media looking to schedule a story on the City of Harrisburg’s efforts in beautifying its neighborhoods should contact Matt Maisel, Director of Communications, via email at [email protected].
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