As part of a $5 million streetscape overhaul, the village of Fairport is removing some older trees along Main Street—and planting a new generation of native species in their place.
The project has raised concerns among some residents, who were surprised to see mature trees taken down in the heart of the village. But village leaders and plant science experts say the changes are designed with long-term sustainability in mind.
“I’m a tree hugger, and I don’t want to see trees come down either,” said Bryan White, manager of the Village of Fairport, adding that having established trees in the village "really makes the difference between a good community and something that’s not there. It provides everything from aesthetics to quality of life and value.”
White said the new trees are being planted with updated techniques and infrastructure, including structured soils designed by experts at Cornell University. He hopes these updates will help the young trees thrive and eventually outlive the ones they’re replacing.
“There is a gap between the full mature tree that was there to what we're planning,” he said. "I'm hoping, with the structured soils that we're putting in, and also providing tree grates and those types of things, they're going to survive and be much more healthy in the long run.”
The updated planting plan includes more than 30 species, many of them native to the region. While some residents may think of “native” trees as always the best choice, Cornell plant science professor emeritus Nina Bassuk says the answer isn’t always that simple, especially in an urban environment.
Not all native species are cut out for life on a city street, where trees face compacted soils, reflected heat, and limited room to grow.
“You have flooding that can be exacerbated by compacted soil,” Bassuk said. “Roots can die from lack of oxygen. On the other hand, you can get very hot and dry conditions, and that’s where trees really can show damage quickly.”
Some native species, like the common red maple, are poorly adapted to these harsh urban conditions.
The Kentucky Coffee Tree on the other hand, which is native but rarely found in New York, is surprisingly resilient and well-suited to the task.
“We find that it does well especially in drought conditions,” Bassuk said.
In Fairport, the tree master list includes a mix of both native and non-native trees, from serviceberries to littleleaf lindens. The key, experts say, is diversity. A wide variety of species not only increases the chances that some trees will thrive, it also protects against future outbreaks of pests and disease. And the more healthy the tree population, the more it can help mitigate the effects of climate change.
"The bigger the canopy, the more benefits you have from trees," said Bassuk. Trees can hold particulate matter and reduce air pollution, filter water, and reduce flooding. They can be homes for pollinators and other beneficial wildlife."
Most importantly, trees provide shade.
"Shade has a huge impact on people's livability," said Bassuk. "If you have a street lined with trees, temperature is going to come down considerably. That will be important for people's health, and opportunity to be outside."
It may take years for the new plantings to fill in and create that kind of shade on Main Street in Fairport. But White and other village officials are optimistic that the long term benefits will be worth the wait.
