Tree planters get to root of things

May 17, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Wasilla Parks and Recreation technicians Ken Langlois and Jana Griffin have sun-bleached hair and dirt under their fingernails.

The two of them estimate that over the last dozen years or so they've either planted or helped coordinate the planting of more than 1,000 trees within the Wasilla city limits. On Monday afternoon, they were at it again.

Surrounded by dozens of eager elementary school age helpers, Langlois and Griffin coached the youngsters along as they planted a 10-foot high mountain ash tree outside the Valley Performing Arts building. It was one of nine trees that went in Monday along Swanson Avenue.

"We're trying to get Swanson lined with trees," the white-haired, tan-faced Langlois said of a project that began 11 summers ago when the first mountain ash trees were planted behind the Carrs/Safeway store in Wasilla.

The planting spree Monday was part of the city's Arbor Day festivities. The event included state and city proclamations as well as awards to several students for designing Arbor Day posters. After the speeches and awards, Cub Scout Pack 363 gave away thousands of foot-long tree seedlings to anyone willing to plant.

"Trees are the healthiest things we can grow," said Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller, who was on hand to help celebrate the plantings. "Planting trees is not just a city effort either. It's a community effort."

Urban Forestry representative John See presented Keller with an award for the work Wasilla has done in planting and promoting urban trees. This year is the fourth year Wasilla earned a Tree City USA honor from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

In addition, Wasilla also received an award this year for going above and beyond the Tree City USA requirements.

The challenge now is finding time and personnel to keep the trees watered.

"The most important thing is getting them water," Langlois said, adding that other challenges are making sure high winds and vandals don't destroy the tiny saplings as they take root.

As trees are established, they form urban forests, which Griffin said helps enhance city air and water quality while also making urban areas look more appealing.

While planting new trees maintains a level of greenery in the city, Langlois and Griffin both agreed that protecting the natural vegetation before it gets scraped off is a better way to maintain urban forests. Wasilla has an ordinance requiring developers to plant trees after they've developed lots, but nothing requires them to keep any of the natural vegetation.

"I think we should have an ordinance to keep some natural vegetation," Griffin said.

"Right now, they don't have to keep any. They can just clear cut."

Wasilla Planning Director Sandra Garley is recruiting volunteers for a focus group to develop recommendations for changing the city's landscape code. The Wasilla code, adopted in 2001 and revised in 2002, requires businesses to plant six 1-inch-diamater trees per acre, along with 12 shrubs, which must be 18 inches high, minimum.

Garley said she's giving people until May 27 to apply for the focus group. Those interested can call her at 373-9020.

Earlier this year, Garley mentioned the importance of having a landscape ordinance that addresses Wasilla as it rapidly changes.

Just before planting the first trees Monday afternoon, Langlois and Griffin looked across Swanson Avenue at an empty lot. It was mostly gravel, but in one corner a cluster of aspen trees grew near the sidewalk.

"Those trees are heartier, and they show they can grow in this area," Langlois said of the natural vegetation.

"And they're beautiful," Griffin added.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@

frontiersman.com.