City of Bel Aire
Tree Board
Tree Board Members work to insure that the City maintains its position as a leader in environmentally friendly practices. Continuing the tradition of environmental stewardship, the Bel Aire City Council created the Tree Board in 1995. The responsibilities and duties of the board are set forth in the amended City Ordinance Number 305, but the general purpose of the Tree Board is to Promote the planting, growing and maintenance of trees by providing assistance to our citizens. The tree board has assisted in securing the City's Tree City USA designation. For over 12 years, the City of Bel Aire has met or exceeded the requirements for the Tree City USA program, a signal of the long standing environmental commitment of our residents.
Bel Aire Arbor Day - May 1, 2010
Arbor Day is just around the corner, and the Bel Aire Tree Board will be hosting a tree planting ceremony at 10:00 am on May 1st near the Central Park Pool in Bel Aire. During this event, the Tree Board will be recognizing the efforts and hard work of Don and Stephanie Lentz. Stephanie was appointed to the Bel Aire Tree Board by Mayor Harold Smith in December of 1997 and served until September of 2009, and Don was appointed by Mayor Gary O'Neal in May of 1999 and served until September of 2009.
Between 1997 and 2009, Don and Stephanie worked with a very knowledgeable group of Tree Board members. members include Master Gardeners; WSU grounds supervisor with a degree in parks and grounds keeping; computer wizards; and folds who were devoted environmentalist.
During the past years, Don and Stephanie were involved in:
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Tree selection and planting at the Bel Aire Rec Center and ball diamonds
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Potted and maintained numerous species of tree seedlings, later ot be planted in the Bel Aire tree farm , west of hte maintance building. Many of hte trees at City Halle and along Woodlawn on the berms in Central Park are these same trees.
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Transplanted the Prairie Fire Crabapples that are in Eagle Lake Park from the west side of hte former Police Station
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Designing and planting at hte City entrance signs. Don and stephanie took the responsiblity of watering the areas for 1 year. A 55 gallon barrel was used, along with a number of gallon jugs to get hte job done.
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Participated in numerous Bel Aire Days with floats and booths. Trees were donated by local area businesses and raffled off. Seedlings were purchased and made available. In 2001, the Tree Board float won 3rd place and used the $25 prize to go towards the purchase of the "Freedom Tree" that is planted in Bel Aire Park in remembrance of victims of the Oklahoma City federal buidling bombing. Donations collected during the '01 Bel Aire Day were also used to purchase the Freedom Tree.
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Tree Board worked with landscape contractors to develop and finalize the landscape plan for the City Hall campus in Central Park.
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Worked with Kansas State Forester on a research project related to planting balled and bur lapped vs. bare root trees along West Central Park Avenue.
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Organized and participated in yearly Arbor Day ceremonies, selecting honorees, tree species and planting locations.
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Kept Tree Board members' hours and contributions for the Tree City U.S.A. applications. This year is Bel Aire's 14th year of earning Tree City U.S.A. status.
Tree Planting Program
The City of Bel Aire has an incentive program for planting trees. If the following guidelines are followed when planting trees, citizens can qualify for a rebate. Street Tree Planting Program Application
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Trees must be shade trees and not ornimental trees
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Trees must be placed 2 ft. - 8 ft. from curbs
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Minimum height must be 6 ft. - 8 ft. when tree is planted.
Recommended Trees:
Below you will find a link to various types of trees well suited for the Bel Aire environment. The Please use this as a guide in your landscaping endeavors.
Tree Related Videos & Presentations:
City Codes that Established the Tree Board
Regulations:
Streets & Sidewalks– The limbs of trees (or shrubbery) that hangs above any street or sidewalk in the City should be trimmed at least 8ft above the sidewalk and 12ft above the streets.
Light Poles & Fire Hydrants – All trees (or shrubbery) greater than 18 inches in height are prohibited within 10 feet of street lighting poles or within 5 feet of fire hydrants.
Tree Spacing – To promote healthy growth of trees, the city encourages the new planting of trees so that the spacing shall be in accordance with the size.
- Small trees – 30 ft between trees; 2 ft from curb/sidewalk
- Medium trees – 40 ft between trees; 3 ft from curb/sidewalk
- Large trees – 50 ft between trees ; 4 ft from curb/sidewalk
Sight Triangle – Nothing should be planted or allowed to grown between 2 ½ feet and 8 feet above grade level in the sight triangle of an intersection.
Utilities – Trees should not be planted within 10 lateral feet of any overhead utility wire or within 5 lateral feet of any underground municipal water line, sewer line, transmission line or other public utility.
Tree Topping – It is unlawful for any person or firm to engage in tree toping –sever cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than 3 inches in diameter within the trees crown to such a degree as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.
Tree Protection – It is unlawful for anyone to attach wire, rope, chain, sign or any other material to any trees within the city, except when used as a preservation practice
Useful Links
7651 E Central Park Ave