Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Commercial and residential growth in Salt Lake City continue to cut into the urban forest. So, when Trolley Square started a renovation that jeopardized dozens trees, it decided to save them rather than chop them down.
The mall is remodeling and adding retail space where the northeast parking lots used to be, and a lot of trees had to go. Trolley Square teamed up with the community to find new homes for the trees.
Salt Lake City urban forester Bill Rutherford likes what he sees.
"They're doing something remarkable: they're saving trees," Rutherford says.
It takes a lot of work to transplant mature trees, but Taylor Tree and Wind River Excavation moved in with heavy equipment to dig up and transport the trees--some more than 30 years old.
"Typically, at a big construction site like this, these trees would be put through the chipper without too much of a second thought, and new trees would be planted," Rutherford says.
Often, the urban forest is uprooted for more pavement and buildings. Instead, mall management got help from the community and volunteer labor to replant the trees at trees farms so they can keep working to beautify and cleanse our environment.
"Trees make destinations more desirable places to be," says Rutherford. "Shopping locations are more desirable locations with a canopy of trees and landscape."
Rutherford points out trees are living, breathing beings that interact with the environment and make our lives better.
"They can't speak for themselves, but the conscientious people involved in this project can speak for them, and they are. And the trees are being protected because of that," Rutherford says.
Throughout the renovation, Trolley Square consulted arborists to make sure they could save as many trees as possible. The mall plans to replenish the urban forest by planting new trees in its landscaping next spring.
"It makes a lot of sense to promote the stewardship of trees, and the protection of trees, at all construction sites," Rutherford says.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
