Trees: Out with the old, in with the new

All good things must come to an end, but it is sad when they do.

The McCook Tree Advisory Board and Parks Advisory Board will meet Friday to determine the fate of a number of linden and hackberry trees in the city park.

If board members decide as expected, a number of the stately old trees have seen their last summer.

As Kyle Potthoff, McCook Public Works Director observed, "Norris Park may look a little different this year."

That will be sad. Besides the band shell, the towering trees around McCook's central park are one of its main attractions.

Most of us have been comforted by their expansive shade during summertime events like McCook National Bank's Hot Summer Nights concerts, or family picnics, Heritage Days or the Relay For Life fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.

But many of the trees obviously need to come down. The ice storm a year ago showed just how many trees had weak branches, not only in Norris Park but throughout the city.

It would be a needless tragedy if one of those old trees happened to fall while the park was occupied.

The city should be lauded for its plans to plant new trees, and for establishing its own nursery at the Transfer Station. The savings will give McCook residents more benefit at lower cost.

A Tree City USA for 22 years, the city should continue its efforts to repopulate the community's tree population.

The Arbor Day Foundation points out a number of benefits to trees that most of us don't think about.

Trees and other green spaces reduce heating and cooling needs for businesses and residences, absorb large amounts of CO2 and other pollutants, provide a stronger sense of community among neighbors, extend the life of street surfaces through shade, provide a use for mulch that can keep "green" waste out of landfills, reduce soil erosion and polluted storm water runoff, creates a positive experience for shoppers and workers with views of green, and generally make the community a better place to live.

More information about trees, their benefits and how to use them, is available at http://arborday.org

More information about the city tree rebate program is available at the city offices, West Fifth and C Street, McCook, (308) 345-2022.