Woodbine Receives Award for Tree Inventory Project

WOODBINE – The Borough of Woodbine has received notice from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Community Forestry Community Stewardship Incentive Program (CSIP) that its application for funding for a project entitled “Our Populist Poplars”: Inventory of Special District with Century-Plus Tulip Poplars is being funded with a grant in the amount of $8,389.60.
Woodbine’s was one only 26 applications being funded from a total of 98 grant applications received for this CSIP grant cycle.
This project will be a survey of the health and required maintenance of the tulip poplars along the two block stretch of Jefferson Avenue extending from DeHirsch Boulevard to Clay Street, part of the eventual production of a preliminary inventory/survey plan for the street trees throughout the Borough.
This population of historic, approximately hundred-foot tall, Tulip Poplars were planted as a cohort when the Borough of Woodbine was founded in 1891. A survey of the placement and health of the trees is a necessary first-step towards the creation of a long-term maintenance project.
This tree inventory would include a complete survey of this “Special District” and development of management plan and also formulate a preliminary inventory/survey plan for the entire Borough, including dividing it into zones and determining the types of information needed for a complete assessment.
“These trees, which have been mentioned in a number of publications, are a major eco-tourist attraction for the Borough, added Mayor Pikolycky. “This project will benefit the community in several ways: by allowing the Borough to maintain the shade and cooling effects these large trees provide and by identifying any potential significant structural problems which could cause tree failure or underground issues due to the extensive root systems of these trees.”
The Special District survey will develop an experienced cadre of survey workers for future Borough efforts. Because the Special District is compact, fieldworkers will be able to conduct a complete survey of the several blocks included in the district.
The Borough’s Certified Tree Expert will determine whether any immediate remediation of hazards is requires and will assist in the formulation of a pro-active long-term management plan.
Woodbine has Approved Status under the Shade Tree and Community Forestry Act and is working under a third five-year Community Forestry Management Plan.