Lewisburg council approves tree work at Soldiers and Sailors Park

Dead branches hanging over Soldiers and Sailors Park are set to come down, along with a Norway maple, as Lewisburg moves to reduce hazards in one of its most-used public green spaces. The borough accepted a $2,750 quote from Dincher & Dincher Tree Surgeons of Williamsport for the work, which is intended to protect park users, preserve the health of the remaining tree canopy and limit the chance that storm damage turns the site into a larger problem.

The project centers on a large red oak and a Norway maple in the park. Borough agenda materials said the work will include soil treatments around the red oak, trimming dead branches from that tree and removing the Norway maple. The recommendation came from Vinnie Cotrone of Penn State Extension, whose work includes municipal tree technical assistance and tree risk assessment.

That makes the job more than routine maintenance in a park Lewisburg describes as a shaded space at the edge of town, good for picnics on the water’s edge. In a borough incorporated on March 21, 1822, trees in public spaces carry both practical and civic weight. Mature shade trees shape how the park is used for walking, resting and gatherings, while also creating the kind of safety concerns that can emerge when branches die or a tree begins to fail.

Lewisburg’s shade tree rules add another layer to the decision. Borough materials say a permit is required before planting or removing a tree in the borough right-of-way, and approved removals can require replacement. The borough’s approved shade tree list also includes red oak among its large shade-tree options, underscoring that the species is part of Lewisburg’s broader tree-management framework even as this particular oak needs remedial work.

The Soldiers and Sailors Park project was not the only tree item in front of borough officials. The May Planning and Public Works Committee agenda also included an ash-tree removal and replanting plan for St. Mary Street Park, another sign that Lewisburg is handling park trees as an ongoing infrastructure issue rather than waiting for a failure. Together, the two reviews point to a borough trying to stay ahead of dead wood, removals and replanting before the next strong storm or heavy-use season makes the work harder and more expensive.