Trees returning to Governor Francis - as promised

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 10/16/18

By JOHN HOWELL -- While Lansdowne Road residents didn't see the best side of government when a wooded area behind John Brown Francis School was cleared of more than 40 trees in a matter of a couple of days in April...

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Trees returning to Governor Francis - as promised

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While Lansdowne Road residents didn’t see the best side of government when a wooded area behind John Brown Francis School was cleared of more than 40 trees in a matter of a couple of days in April, Tom Wisniewski is impressed by how the Warwick Sewer Authority and city followed up in the wake of the incident.

“Charlie Lombardi really took the bull by the horns,” Wisniewski said Sunday from in front of his home across from the cleared lot. “Everything he said, he did.”

Anthony Russo, who lives at the end of Lansdowne, is happy with the restoration effort, too. An arborist, Russo drew up a plan for replanting the area. His plan called for several more trees, but he’s happy with what’s being done.

Retained by the sewer authority to coordinate Gov. Francis Farms Phase 3 sewers, Lombardi of O&M Solutions was on site Monday for the final delivery of trees from Forest Hills nursery of Cranston. Managing the planting was Augie Mendes of C.B. Utility, contractor for the sewer project who knows his trees and takes pride in seeing they are properly spaced and planted.

A wider selection of species including dogwood, white pine, red maple and oak will replace the predominately oak and maples cut down. More than 35 shrubs, including winterberry with their red berries, will make up the undergrowth.

Because of the contributive efforts of city, school and city crews plus CB Utility, Lombardi estimated the cost of restoring the area at less than $10,000. He said the new growth cost $8,000. In addition, the stumps of the former trees had to be ground down for $1,200.

Before construction started, the Warwick School Department was contacted about the possible use of property behind JBF School as a site to stage materials and to park vehicles. In an effort to be cooperative, the School Department was receptive to the request, believing only a few trees would be removed, if that.

When the clear cutting started, Lansdowne residents along with School Committee member Eugene Nadeau and Ward 1 Councilman Rick Corley sounded the alarm. It was too late to save most of the trees, but the protest put a stop to use of the Lansdowne property as a staging site. C.B. Utility, of Bristol, is using property on the west side of Warwick Avenue near Hoxsie Four Corners.

Following several meetings with Lansdowne homeowners, the sewer authority adopted a plan to restore trees and shrubs to the cleared site. With the agreement of the neighborhood, the planting was put off until this fall. Ironically, Wisniewski points out, Northeast Tree Service that cut down the trees, returned to grind down 43 stumps in order to prepare the site.

About two weeks ago, 25 trees were planted along with 35 to 40 shrubs. The planting was to have continued last week, but was put off by heavy rains.

Will the area look the same as it did?

Wisniewski doubts it, although “in five years” he expects it’s going to look nice.

Lombardi and Mendes want the area to look even better than what it was, with colorful displays in the spring and fall and leafy undergrowth throughout the year. Crews will be back twice a week to water the plantings unless Mother Nature takes care of that.

“This was an unfortunate communication breakdown,” Lombardi said of the incident. “Here’s what you get when everybody is on the same page.”

Wisniewski is in agreement.

Already, he said, it’s a big improvement.

The day after the first plantings, Wisniewski spotted a deer on the property.

“That’s a good omen,” he said.

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