Parks commission sees new trees lining Morris Street

The La Conner Parks Commission wants to do more than plant seeds for La Conner’s future landscape.

The five-member advisory board wants to plant trees, more than a dozen of them along Morris Street, at no cost to the town.

Commission members Ollie Iversen, Martin Howard and Mike Bucy shared plans for the beautification project during the March 26 Town Council meeting at the Civic Garden Club.

Bucy served as project spokesperson. The council endorsed the initiative.

“Our proposal is to raise donations to plant trees on Morris Street with no city funding,” said Bucy. “We just need council approval of the idea.”

Bucy said the commission has consulted with an arborist to identify types of deciduous trees that won’t “spread out” and cause obstruction issues or sidewalk damage. The project will include removal of trees that now impede sidewalk access or impair public safety, he said.

Howard said some existing trees have been in place for about 20 years and are growing outside their grates. He said a half-dozen trees need replacement. All told, 16 trees will be placed along Morris Street if the fundraising campaign succeeds.

“Remember, trees were there before. This is a replacement. It isn’t new,” council member and parks commission liaison Mary Wohleb said.

Bucy provided councilors with a map indicating where the trees would be planted. He estimated that each tree will cost about $1,000, including purchase, delivery, commemorative donor plaques and other related expenses.

“This will be kind of like the Adopt-A-Bench concept,” Wohleb said.

In addition, the La Conner Chamber of Commerce is seeking grants for the project.

La Conner resident Linda Talman requested that trees native to Western Washington be selected to comply with a 2018 town resolution and best serve the local bird population. Bucy said commissioners would circle back to the arborist and ask about native trees.

Once the money is raised, Bucy said autumn will be the best time to plant the trees.

“We’ll be mindful of doing that,” he said.

Morris Street isn’t the only section of town being eyed for a facelift.

Washington and Road streets and Maple Avenue will get sidewalk and storm-drain improvements funded through a state Transportation Improvements Board grant that will cover up to $240,000 in upgrades. The town’s match will be about 13%, or an estimated $34,900.

The council praised Town Public Works Director Brian Lease for securing the grant award.

“Thank you, Brian, for chasing it down,” Wohleb said.

“The grant process is very time consuming,” Lease said. “Sitting down and completing a grant application is the biggest task.”