Clearcutting Baltimore’s Camden Yards?
Above: Last week, workers cut down Bradford Pear trees on the west and south sides of Camden Yards.
Last week, The Brew noticed some suspicious-looking clear cutting taking place on the west and south sides of Camden Yards, while we were down there to take a photo for the Daily Camden project.
Upon further investigation, we learned that many of the stadium’s trees are indeed being cut down but there seems to be good reason for it and they are, for the most part, already in the process of being replaced.
In a nutshell, the Maryland Stadium Authority is working with the Orioles and a landscape architect to spruce up the stadium in environmentally conscious ways.
They’re replacing nowadays-frowned-upon Bradford Pears, some of which were damaged, diseased and ready to be replaced, with Eastern Redbuds — part of the MSA’s plan to give a face-lift and sustainability-makeover to the 18-year-old park.
The new landscaping goal was “a design that was beautiful, environmentally sensitive to the watershed we occupy, and requiring minimal maintenance, fertilizer, and watering through using native and drought-resistant perennial species,” said MSA Public Information Officer Jan Hardesty.
In addition to water conservation, creating a cooler canopy for the stadium, and allowing for a more practical irrigation system, ridding the perimeter of the bradford Pears will make for an overall healthier collection of trees, she said.
According to Hardesty, the State of Maryland considers Bradford Pears “an invasive species that pushes out native species.” Redbuds are native, less vulnerable to harsh weather, and last longer than Bradford Pears, which have a lifespan of around 20-30 years.
One of seven crape myrtles the Stadium Authority planted on the median next to the service drive between Russell Street and M&T. The species is Powhatan. (Photo courtesy of Jan Hardesty)
In spite of the clear cutting and root removal, eventually “Every tree removed either has been, or will be, replaced,” said Hardesty. In addition to the redbuds, MSA has also added eleven new fruit trees on the east side of the stadium, four crape myrtles to the planters on the north side of the Warehouse, and seven new crape myrtles at the intersection of Russell and Hamburg.
“We’re still working on the plan,” Hardesty said, “so you may continue to see activity on our perimeter throughout the fall.”