Grant offers fertile plan to plant trees on Morris Street

Town leaders hope to spruce up La Conner’s appearance with the planting of new trees along Morris Street.

The La Conner Chamber of Commerce and Town Parks Commission are teaming up on a grant application for placing street sensitive trees plus hanging baskets and updated banners to further beautify the town.

“The trees will be placed into existing holes with a containment to keep the roots from streets and sidewalks,” parks commission chair Ollie Iverson said in his official report of the panel’s Sept. 13 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall.

Iverson said the grant will be awarded in October.

“We will plant as many new trees along Morris Street as the funding will cover,” Iverson added. “We will do this again in 2024, if needed, to finish the project. The funds for this will not go through the Town. It has not yet been determined how, and (the) public works (department) has full knowledge of this.”

In a related development, Town Planning Commissioner Marna Hanneman last week asked the status of plans to replace a tree removed from the Ziply’s property on Morris and Third streets.

“Public Works has an arborist working around town,” Town Planner Michael Davolio responded during the commission’s Sept. 21 meeting. “They’ve asked for a cost estimate for a replacement.”

The arborist had previously identified trees for removal at Pioneer Park that pose a public hazard. A winter windstorm at the park a couple years ago caused trees to fall onto the roof of the covered kitchen and picnic shelter, resulting in significant damage.

Iverson said that funding for tree removal and cleanup at Pioneer Park is being sought as part of a state Local Maintenance Program Recreation and Conservation Office grant application for repairs to the iconic fish slide at Conner Waterfront Park.

The decision on that grant request is also anticipated next month.