Replacements set in AG City Park for trees killed in maintenance mishap

TRIM Grant allows city to bring in 13 specific park trees, two more to come, as mistake mea culpa
Thirteen trees, purchased with funds provided by a TRIM grant, were planted in the Ash Grove City Park on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The trees, including six Serviceberries, two Chinkapin Oaks, three Silver Bells and two Willow Oaks were planted by Carson’s Nursery. Jon Skinner, community forester from the Missouri Department of Education, oversaw the planting while providing information on the care and maintenance of the trees. The grant requires the city to plant two additional trees before a deadline on May 7 of this year. The trees replace 15 dead trees, the result of what’s believed to be an accidental poisoning, which were removed from the park in November.
Jennifer Martin, utility billing/court clerk for the city of Ash Grove, said the trees which were planted in the park were not chosen at random.
“It was important to us that the replacement trees be of same size and type,” she said.
 However, not all of the required trees could be planted immediately due to a larger number of people planting trees during the pandemic.
“The availability of certain tree species was limited this year, according to Carson’s Nursery, as many people focused on home improvements and landscaping with the pandemic keeping people close to home,” she said. “Nurseries were very busy changing the normal amount or tree inventory.”
TRIM Grant
The TRIM Grant was awarded to the city on Sept. 3; the city was given $9,253.86 and added a cost share of $3,084.62 for a total of $12,338.48. While the city had until May 7 to use the funds, Martin said they decided to plant the available trees before the end of 2020.
“As part of the completion time table … the City of Ash Grove had a goal to have the project completed before the end of the year to keep the momentum going and to be proactive with scheduling,” she said.
Martin said a ceremony will be held in the park when the final two trees become available and are planted; the public will be invited to attend.