Detroit Cuts Down 3,000th Dead Tree Ahead of Schedule

The General Services Department will cut down another 3,000 trees beginning in July.

Bre’Anna Tinsley/WDET

Detroit’s General Services Department has removed its 3,000th dead tree ahead of schedule today.

Crews have been taking down trees across the city for the past six months and didn’t expect to reach this goal until this summer.

Carlos Cornonado is the Director of the Forestry Division. He says the trees that were taken down died either from the emerald ash borer or some disease.

“It’s a lot of Ash, a lot of Elm that died in the past from Dutch Elm disease. And just other trees that are kind of reaching the end of their life span. Any tree that may be hazardous as well, has a big hole in it, or dead branches falling off, that’s the thing that we try to address and solve that proactively,” Cornonado says. 

The city is responsible for trees between sidewalks and the curb of the property and all trees on public property.

Cornonado says the city will begin removing another 3,000 trees beginning in July. 

For an interactive look at the city’s tree removal throughout the city, click here

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