To the Editor:

The Princeton Borough Shade Tree Commission is pleased to announce its inventory of approximately 2300 street trees (102 species) is now officially on line and accessible to the general public. The tree survey and data collection took three years. The Commission thanks all in the Borough who volunteered so many hours to make the new data system possible.

Starting October 1, 2012, anyone can access the street survey by going to the Shade Tree Commission’s website, address www.pbshadetree.org, clicking the green word DATABASE in the left side column, and following the instructions provided on the website. Users will be guided through steps to choose any address in the Borough and obtain the species names and sizes of curbside street trees at that address.

In addition to satisfying the tree curious, this inventory will enable municipal employees to maintain the database, identify aging trees requiring removal, schedule the removal of diseased or damaged trees, and plan for replacement trees. They can also record citizen reports about trees in distress or requests for trees to be planted in vacant sites. Database reports will assist Public Works staff in diversifying tree species along a street (a means to forestall the spread of some diseases), and in selecting replacement trees with proven salt resistance or with mature heights appropriate to a particular street’s features, considering signage, utility wires, sidewalks etc.

A look at the new database reveals that pin oaks are at present the most populous street trees in the Borough, followed by sugar maples. London plane trees are in third place, then red maples, thornless honey locusts, Norway maples, and Japanese zelkova, with 95 other species following in decreasing numbers.

Princeton Borough has earned “Tree City” status for 17 years. Maintenance of the database will help consolidated Princeton track growth of its diverse urban forest and keep a healthy tree canopy going forward. A similar survey to cover roadside trees in the Township is underway, and results will be added to the Borough’s on-line data in 2013, post-consolidation.

Princeton Borough Shade Tree Commission

Alexandra Radbil, Chair,

Pat Hyatt, Vice-Chair,

Sharon Ainsworth, member, Marie Rickman, member,

Welmoet von Kammen, member, database master,

Jenny Crumiller, Borough Council liaison