INC NEWS - Dependance on Government and money to solve our problems?

[Mike - Hotmail]

While I agree with Randy that fallen trees and those trees in danger of 
falling or losing their limbs is a threat that needs immediate attention, 
could we try to find a solution that just doesn't rely on the city finding 
more money to solve it?

Is there a way for us as citizens to play a part in working with the city 
(and/or it's contractor) to help out in some way to solve this problem?

In Randy's posting he mentions taking the initiative of moving a fallen limb 
that was blocking a driveway into a park.

Is there a way that citizens,  under direction or training with the city 
could coordinate some small brush or limb removal using volunteers?

Something like a city wide,  "Get Out and Help Our Parks Day" real soon?

Years ago, Parks and Recreation in cooperation with General Services 
instituted an "Adopt a Park" program for residents to participate in 
policing their parks for trash, debris and light plantings.

At Northgate Park,  we've also removed the suckers from the bases of the 
Crepe Myrtles,  lowered overgrown bushes and 'limbed' up some of the low 
hanging tree limbs implementing CPTED (Crime Prevention Through 
Environmental Design) to not only make the park cleaner but also safer by 
creating a visual field of view for visitors.   This enables a parent to see 
from one side of the park clear over to another which children definitely 
appreciated.   Parents got a more secure feeling as they strolled thru it.

This 3 to 7 foot clearance zone also removed a number of potential eye 
injuries for not only visitors but also the lawn mowers who regularly cut 
the grass on riding mowers.

Besides picking up trash,  we also took care to drag some of the dead and 
fallen limbs out to a designated area for later pick up by city workers 
during prescheduled (every third month) 'events'.

None of this involve power tools or chain saws.

I'm suggesting that the city consider further encouragement of the Adopt A 
Park program and in this time of urgent need,  to ask those volunteers who 
want to help out to work with Urban Forestry (and their contractors) in a 
well thought out mitigation plan, together.

While I'm all for resolving the dangerous situations immediately,  I'm not 
so sure that throwing money at it is the best long term solution.

City Hall can't do it all,  nor should we expect them to.

Is there a chance for a partnership here?

Mike Shiflett


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RW Pickle" <randy at 27beverly.com>
To: <inc-list at durhaminc.org>
Cc: <fhna-list at fhnanews.com>
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 2:31 PM
Subject: INC NEWS - Our Green Infrastructure Needs Help


> Please excuse the last TWO emails as I struggle with the Dell because my
> Mac is in the shop. It has a mind of its own...
>
> In the last email where I said I had discovered a serious problem that
> required immediate attention, well it got worse today.
>
> Today, a Durham park has been closed because of the dangerous and dead
> trees. If you recall, I mentioned the small storm we had on the evening of
> July 4th had shown that this City is not able to take care of the problems
> as they occur, much less maintain the status quo. Urban Forestry is doing
> all they can do to keep up with our dead and dieing trees. The drought,
> freak storms, DOT and other factors have them so far behind that it is
> impossible for them to catch up. They need some help!
>
> After the July 4th storm, that weekend (and into the evenings) they
> responded to 74 calls of downed trees blocking roads. Only 4 of the were
> from City owned property. The rest, were homeowners trees that had fallen.
> They'll work all week and then come in Sunday and work just to try to make
> a dent. This is dangerous work and you can't expect them tthem to continue
> this at this pace.
>
> Today, Shady Oaks Park was closed. The pine beetle infestation (suspected)
> has destroyed a substantial number of pines. So much so , that it was
> dangerous to allow the public to use the park. Our parks have taken a
> beating from the drought as well. Within 300 yards of where I sit writing
> this email, there are three downed hickorys and several dead standing
> oaks. I have looked at four fallen trees in Northgate Park (I go to the
> dog park there daily) for more than a month. I finally took the time this
> week to remove a 20' branch from the road where we had been driving around
> it for a week. And the list goes on. Morehead Hills Park has dead and
> fallen trees. Rockwood Park looks like a bomb went off in it. A member of
> Urban Forestry told me today that one needs to be wearing a hard hat when
> they go there. Yet moms and dads will take their kids there today to enjoy
> the playground.
>
> Since January, there have been two cars totaled from falling dead tree
> debris and another incident where it broke a windshield. How long will it
> be before one of these hits a child and causes serious injury or even
> death? What do you guess that would cost?
>
> I am proposing that the City of Durham immdiantly prepare a work contract
> for helping Urban Forestry catch up to the mess three of the last years of
> drought have caused. A contract for $29,975 could be executed in less than
> three days and next week we could begin dealing with this problem that
> only seems to increase in monemtum. In the mean time work toward a
> $400,000  contract to get us caught up. I have already found the money to
> make this happen. Because of the large number for dollars amount needed
> for this work, it'll be Oct. before Council has the opportunity to sign
> off on it. In the mean time, we're dealing with a problem that is only
> getting larger and will eventually (and could really) get more expensive.
>
> Please support this initiative for the immediate influx of cash to fix our
> green infrastructure. It's in serious trouble and needs help. If you live
> on or use a park frequently, send me the photos of the dead and downed
> trees and tell me in what park they are in. We have 65 of them and I can't
> get around to see them all. Help me help our citizens create a friendly
> and safe environment in our park system for our kids to play. It's no ones
> fault that this has happened. But it will be ours if we don't do something
> about it right now. Pass this along to your neighborhoods so everyone
> knows we need their support to fix this growing (well, it really isn't
> growing, it's a dead) problem.
>
> RWP
> 27 Beverly
>
>
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