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Park Tree Inventory

Thanks to a grant program through the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Sikeston Park Division is getting an inventory of all the trees in the City’s 14 parks.

Measuring a tree in Sikeston The Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program provides local governmental agencies, school systems, and non-profit organizations financial assistance for the management, improvement, or conservation of trees. Eligible projects include tree inventories, plan development, and educational activities centered on trees, as well as tree pruning, removal, and planting.

The City was approved by the Conservation Department for a 60 percent match of a $5,438 project, or $3,263. The City’s share of the project is $1,773. The inventory is being conducted by Ralph Allison, a Certified Forester who is retired from the U.S. Forest Service.

Jiggs Moore, Sikeston Park Director, explained that he applied for the TRIM grant for a tree inventory of the City’s park system in the wake of the 2009 ice storm to get an accurate count, location, and identification of the varieties of trees in the City’s parks. Allison will also collect information on the sizes of trees and estimates of age.

“We lost over 200 trees in the park system as a result of the ice storm,” said Moore. “The inventory will not only tell us the number and varieties of trees we have, it will also give us an assessment of the condition of trees.” He added this is important for budgeting purposes when allocating funds for tree pruning and removal.

Knowing the kinds of trees will help with deciding which trees could be expanded in Sikeston’s urban forest with future plantings in the parks.

“Also, with a narrower focus, the inventory will give us an idea of our ash tree population,” Moore explained, “and the potential impact of emerald ash borer.”

Finally, a tree inventory is a requirement for communities seeking Tree City USA status. The inventory will satisfy that requirement should the City decide to pursue the Tree City designation.

The inventory will be completed by May 1.