The park's trees
Most of McBurney Park's grand old trees are Silver Maples planted in the early 20th century when the former cemetery was being converted into a park. Smaller trees of other species were planted more recently. Many trees, especially the Silver Maples, were damaged in the the 1998 ice storm. Some had to be removed, and some different species were planted. But the Ice Storm, while tragic, only sped things along, for the Silver Maples are nearing the end of their natural lifespan and there is an urgent need to replace them, preferably with a greater diversity of species that would avoid leaving any single species vulnerable to disease. People of the neighbourhood raised approximately $8000 in 2003 in a fundraising drive to “Re-tree McBurney Park.” The 2004 Landscape Renewal Plan process was then underway and the funds raised for trees were put in trust, where they remain.
Most of McBurney Park's grand old trees are Silver Maples planted in the early 20th century when the former cemetery was being converted into a park. Smaller trees of other species were planted more recently. Many trees, especially the Silver Maples, were damaged in the the 1998 ice storm. Some had to be removed, and some different species were planted. But the Ice Storm, while tragic, only sped things along, for the Silver Maples are nearing the end of their natural lifespan and there is an urgent need to replace them, preferably with a greater diversity of species that would avoid leaving any single species vulnerable to disease. People of the neighbourhood raised approximately $8000 in 2003 in a fundraising drive to “Re-tree McBurney Park.” The 2004 Landscape Renewal Plan process was then underway and the funds raised for trees were put in trust, where they remain.
One priority project of the renewal plan was to assess the status of the trees and recommend steps for further planning. The City then directed an arborist to complete a Tree Management Plan for the park. Completed in 2005, it provided an excellent analysis of why and how the park's tree canopy should be renewed and outlined a 10-year plan to remove 35 dying trees, replace them with 35 new trees and plant 12 additional trees. Tree planting in McBurney Park is complicated by the need to include archaeologists’ services in the cost because the former cemetery lies not far beneath the surface. Nevertheless, as both reports made clear, the trees are a defining feature of the park, and the tree population is in need of renewal and increased diversity of both species and age of trees.
McBurney Park used to be full of trees like this. After the 1998 Ice Storm, many of them had to be removed. The MPNA's Park Committee is working with the City of Kingston to plant new ones.