City wants more shade, less damage

BURBANK — As temperatures reach triple digits throughout the San Fernando Valley, tree shade provides one of the few modes of outdoor relief from the sweltering sun.

On the other hand, the intrusive root structures of broad-canopied trees that are popular in Southern California continue to tear up streets, sidewalks and underground infrastructure.

In an attempt to preserve trees' benefits while managing their pesky and often destructive side effects, Burbank's Park, Recreation and Community Services Department is in the early stages of a reforestation effort to replace some existing trees with species that do not wreak as much havoc, said City Manager Mike Flad.

"It's a way of being proactive and starting to replace these trees instead of waiting for them to break or cause serious problems with our infrastructure," he said.

About 30 years ago, the city planted nearly 200 fast-growing, full-canopied ficus trees along Magnolia Boulevard from Moss Street to Clybourn Avenue and along Hollywood Way between Chandler Boulevard and Clark Avenue, said Park, Recreation and Community Services Director Eric Hansen.

"Currently, there are around 170 remaining," he said. "Those that have been removed were a result of wind damage, sidewalk upheavals and [American with Disabilities Act] issues."

With the completion of a massive repaving project on Magnolia Boulevard — which repaired much of the damage caused by the aggressive root structure of the ficus trees — merchants in the Magnolia Park District want to see the remaining ficuses removed and replaced, he added.

Among replacement species that are being considered is the podocarpus macrophyllus — a slow-growing evergreen that grows to approximately 20 feet tall with canopies that grow to be 8 to 12 feet wide, according to information supplied by the Parks department. In addition, officials are considering the tabebuia avellanedae, a moderate-growing tree that grows to about 30 feet tall with canopies that are 30 feet wide.

By the end of 2008, city officials are aiming to replace individual ficus trees with alternative trees at 1614, 2000, 2019 and 3701 W. Magnolia Blvd., the Parks Department's Magnolia Reforestation Plan says.

Having tree canopies as cover throughout the community produces benefits regarding both climate control and energy savings, Hansen said.

"Generally, the more canopy cover, the better it is for the environment," he said.

Currently the city has 28,286 trees in parkways and there are plans to plant an additional 100 trees each year to increase that coverage, he added.