Alex Paul
Volunteers with the Sweet Home Tree Commission are asking for the public’s help in locating persons responsible for vandalism that has destroyed 14 trees and damaged 13 others at Sankey Park.
Alice Smith told The New Era last week that of 67 trees planted by the city and volunteers along the banks of Ames Creek, 27 have been damaged.
“We started noticing damage about December 4,” Smith said. “Since that time, it seems as though there has been a systematic mutilation of trees at least once a week.”
Smith, a botanist with the U.S. Forest Service, said it is evident the damage is not caused by animals.
“At first, we thought it was caused by kids hanging out at the bridge,” Smith said. “The damage started on the community side of the creek. More recently, the damage is toward the bridge, which is more out in the open.”
Smith said the trees were not expensive since they were purchased at wholesale prices, from $3 to $8 per tree. But volunteers also planted and were caring for the trees. There was a lot of time, care and feeding involved in getting them started.”
Smith said the trees won’t be replanted until next fall.
“Some of the trees may survive if they can sprout below the snapped off areas,” Smith said.
Maintenance for the trees will be through a grant from the South Santiam Watershed Council.
“We’re not planning to add a lot of trees beyond the total we had,” Smith said. “We may add a tree here and there in strategic places. It’s going to take 20 years for these trees to make a difference but if we don’t start now, it won’t ever happen.”
Smith asks the public to help out by “keeping an eye on the trees and park and to report suspicious activity” to the Sweet Home Police Department at 367-5181.