RELEASE: City of Saint Paul completes residential cleanup of storm-damaged trees

For Immediate Release
July 19, 2013
Contact: Dan Undem
(O) 651-266-6367 (C) 612-270-8280
dan.undem@ci.stpaul.mn.us 

 

 

City of Saint Paul completes residential cleanup of storm-damaged trees

 

SAINT PAUL- More than 500 public trees and countless private trees fell as a result of storms that ripped through the City of Saint Paul on June 21 and 22. Following an exhaustive three-and-a-half-week cleanup effort that included both public and private tree debris collection, residential tree cleanup efforts by the city’s forestry staff are now complete.

“On behalf of the residents of Saint Paul, I want to recognize the tireless efforts of our professional forestry staff over the last three and a half weeks,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “This was the type of storm that we haven’t seen in the city in many years, and thanks to the quick and thorough response, our streets are clear and our neighborhoods are nearly debris-free.”

Forestry crews will now begin removing storm damaged trees in city parks as well as tipped- up stumps throughout the city. Flat stumps left as a result of the storm will be incorporated into the normal stump-grinding removal schedules. Trees with remaining damaged limbs that pose no risk to public safety will be pruned as part of regular tree trimming work. Additional public trees damaged in the storm that don’t pose a risk to public safety, but require removal, have been marked with red rings and will be incorporated with ongoing forestry tree removals.

Residents who did not place private tree debris on the boulevard for city forestry collection by June 28 can take the debris to any Ramsey County Yard waste site (hours and locations of these sites can be found here: http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/rt/yard_waste_collection_sites.htm). Any private debris still remaining on boulevards is the responsibility of the homeowner and should be cleaned up as soon as possible to prevent any safety issues.

The replacement schedule of lost trees has not been finalized, but most replanting will be done as part of the city’s ongoing four-year planting rotation. To help expedite the re-planting, residents can donate to the “Trees Saint Paul” program, which was created following the storms of 2007 that resulted in a similar loss of trees. All funds collected as part of the program will go towards tree replacement throughout the city. For more information, or to donate, visit: http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=950

To view a map showing when tree removal areas were completed, as well as an FAQ guide on the cleanup, please visit: www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=5235

 

About Saint Paul Parks & Recreation

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited and gold medal award-winning organization that manages more than 170 parks and open spaces, AZA accredited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 25 city-operated recreation centers, four municipal golf courses, more than 100 miles of trails, an indoor and two outdoor aquatic facilities, a public beach, a variety of premium sports facilities, and Great River Passage - which is the new identity for all proposed public development along Saint Paul's more than 17 miles of Mississippi riverfront. For more information about Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, visit www.stpaul.gov/parks.

 

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