Memorial Park Redwood Removed, Lumber Preserved

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, A&R Tree Services Inc. commenced the removal process for the Memorial Park redwood tree and Oregon white oak, concluding a months-long community talking point. By April 12, 2024, the final stump had been ground down, and the removal process was completed.

“We’re trying to preserve parks and open spaces to make them better for people,” said Newberg Mayor Bill Rosacker. “We wanted to ensure that Memorial Park continued to enjoy all the benefits of trees now and into the future. We just made sure to plant them in the right place this time.”

Rosacker stated that he visited the park during the tree removal to track the project’s progress. He counted the rings in one of the largest pieces he could find and noted around 78 rings on the tree, but he also observed rot in the tree.

“It might not have been there much longer anyway,” Rosacker said.

During the felling process, the arborists processed the tree with the intention of milling the lumber for future use, as promised by the Newberg City Council when they decided to proceed with removal plans.

“Newberg’s City Council and staff heard deep concern and sorrow from the community over losing the redwood,” stated a press release from the City of Newberg. “This response to the tree’s removal has been influential in directing ongoing formalization of tree management methods and revision of the list of trees recommended for planting in Newberg. These efforts will help the city move toward more responsible and sustainable tree management practices for the future.”

During a February Newberg City Council meeting, four Newberg residents, on behalf of the Sustainable Solutions of Newberg-Dundee (SSND) group, shared public comments expressing concern over the removal of trees and the gazebo in Memorial Park.

They learned about this during a Chehalem Parks and Recreation District (CPRD) meeting on January 25, 2024 [timestamp: 2:34:50], when CPRD Parks & Facilities Supervisor Bryan Stewart notified the board about the tree removal project in case residents saw the work and were curious about what was happening. During that explanation, he said the Newberg Public Safety parking lot was planning on expanding, which required the removal of the trees and gazebo.

In a following meeting, City Manager Will Worthey provided a presentation detailing the reason for the tree’s removal: root damage to an underground stormwater pipe that prevented downtown Newberg from flooding during extreme weather events. In subsequent city council meetings, SSND requested the city slow down plans to remove the trees to allow time to explore other solutions.

The city researched the alternatives and reported they were either too expensive or impossible and proceeded with the plans.

Catch up on the full Memorial Park Redwood Tree storyline.

According to the press release, the processable lumber from the redwood tree was collected to be milled into decking boards and table slices for use around the community. Branches and smaller portions were chipped and will be used in CPRD parks.

The city provided the oak wood to the VFW woodcutters to be seasoned and donated to Newberg FISH to assist families in need of wood for heating their homes.

Anyone interested in acquiring lumber from the redwood tree removal can email Newberg City Manager Will Worthey. While the yield from the tree is not known yet, Worthey said the wood will be given away free to the community to use as they see fit.

The Memorial Park Gazebo

According to the City of Newberg, Public Works Director Russ Thomas is exploring alternatives to removing the gazebo in Memorial Park.

The gazebo has been a focal point during discussions about tree removal. Thomas mentioned that the gazebo showed signs of dry rot, indicating it was structurally hazardous to Newberg residents. Additionally, the gazebo sits on City of Newberg land, which is being considered for a future project to expand the Public Safety building campus, according to Worthey.

“As far as I am concerned, [this is] good news that it can stay there until we have a plan to expand our footprint,” said Worthey in an email.

During the April 1 City Council meeting, residents provided public comments to understand more about the damage and necessity to dismantle and remove the gazebo. The following day, the City of Newberg released a statement saying that Thomas and the Public Works team would review alternative options to repair the gazebo instead of removing it.

Memorial plaques have been temporarily removed from the structure, according to the release, and are being stored at Newberg Public Works. CPRD removed the surrounding rhododendrons and transplanted them into its greenhouse until work repairing the gazebo is complete.

The Six New Trees in Memorial Park

In collaboration with CPRD, the City of Newberg planted six new trees in Memorial Park: two Oregon white oaks, two Bigleaf maples, and two Greenspire linden trees.

• Oregon White Oak
  • Scientific Name: Quercus garryana
  • Oregon Native: Yes
  • Description: One of only four deciduous oaks native to the West Coast. The massive, branching trunks and broad crowns of old white oaks are characteristic features of valley woodlands in the Pacific Northwest.
• Bigleaf Maple, or Oregon Maple
  • Scientific Name: Acer macrophyllum
  • Oregon Native: Yes
  • Description: Leaves that can reach 12-inches wide and the tallest maple species in North America. Also can be tapped for Bigleaf maple syrup.
• Greenspire Liden
  • Scientific Name: Tilia cordata Greenspire®
  • Oregon Native: No
  • Description: It has an ideal pyramidal shape, with good density and symmetry which is maintains to and older age.