Christmas came early to Glen Ridge, via an unlikely Santa, when the county suddenly provided 49 trees in late November toward an historic replanting of Ridgewood Avenue from Bay to Watchung. Another 21 trees are promised for spring. So, Happy “Tree” Year Glen Ridge!
Despite the suddenness of their delivery, these saplings did not come a moment too soon. The unfolding “tree” crisis on that stretch of Ridgewood Avenue has long posed a serious aesthetic threat to the borough –
as well as an economic one.
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It’s hard to overstate the foresightedness of the original Glen Ridge Shade Tree Commissioners. In 1912, they systematically planted an alee of pin oaks along what was nothing more than an undeveloped and unpaved country road. Their avowed goal was to make Ridgewood Avenue “one of the finest avenues in the state.” The picture above is a testament to their daring. It was taken from Avon looking north five years later, in 1917, immediately after the avenue was paved for the first time.
Happily, their foresight became a self-fulfilling prophesy. In fewer than 20 years, that roadway developed just as the commissioners had intended. Below is a picture of the northwest corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Stanford Place, taken in the 1930s. A stunning transformation.
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As countless pictures taken over the years attest, the tunnel of green that the alee formed became the town’s iconic image and the key to its aesthetics -- not to mention its real-estate values. |
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Indeed, how many of us at the south end have directed our out-of-town guests to get off the Parkway at Watchung rather than Belleville because of it? More to the point, how many of us chose to look for houses in town because of it?
2012
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A Catastrophe in the Making
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One-hundred-and-ten years later, however, the gigantic remnants of that original alee have managed to obscure an unfolding catastrophe. A substantial number of these trees has already been removed and the rest are soon to follow. The picture below was taken in 2014. Already, the absence of trees was evident, and at least five of the trees pictured are no longer standing.
For the past several years, the current Shade Tree Commissioners have realized that a preemptive replanting of that entire stretch had to be undertaken immediately to preserve the majestic look of the avenue for now and the next hundred years. The problem was that the street and the trees were no longer the responsibility of the borough, but of the county. And, obviously, with a pandemic raging, the county had more pressing issues.
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Therefore, the commissioners drew up a plan, identifying planting sites and a definitive list of trees needed. With the plan in hand, the mayor and town councilors, especially Peter Hughes and Debbie Mans, successfully interceded with county officials for the needed tree stock. Not only did they respond, but with record-breaking speed. |
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History Restored - and in the Making |
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Unfortunately, restoring the historic alee by planting only oaks would be irresponsible. That’s the lesson learned from the past deaths of native tree species due to Asian invaders – chestnuts to Chestnut Blight, elms to Dutch Elm Disease (DED), and ash to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). So instead, the spectacularly uniform canopy will be restored by intermingling three tree species that develop a similar shape and size at maturity.
The oak will remain the keystone – because of its grandeur and unsurpassed ecological benefits. However, London planetrees, a mainstay of the borough’s street-tree plantings since the late 19th century, will be intermixed, as will American elms -- DED-resistant, of course. The hope is that 50 years hence, residents will look back and marvel at the foresight of those who did the planting in 2022!
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Besides the mayor and council, the Shade Tree Commissioners wish to thank those who are bringing this vital project to fruition. At the County level, they include Joe DiVincenzo, County Executive, Phil Alagia, Chief of Staff, Sanjev Varghese, Director of Public Works, and Michael Droz, Tree Supervisor.
But we are also grateful – yet again – for the efficiency and aplomb of Borough Administrator Mike Zichelli and DPW Operations Supervisor, Bill Bartlett, both of whom scrambled to make sure the unexpected largesse of trees was meticulously planted with dispatch.
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The Shade Tree Commission wants to be your resource on all things "trees." If you have concerns, questions or issues, do not hesitate to contact us at shadetree@glenridgenj.org |
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Elizabeth Baker, Chair
Joan Lisovicz
Robert Baum
Tina Seaboch
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