Colorado State Announces Approval Of Long-Range Landscape Plans For Historic Oval
Tuesday, December 31, 1996
FORT COLLINS--Colorado State University has adopted long-
range landscape plans that include planting new elm trees to
ensure the historic Oval remains a centerpiece of campus.
"We've taken a long, hard look at our options and come up
with a plan that we think best addresses concerns raised about
the aging trees at the Oval," said Gerry Bomotti, vice president
of administrative services at Colorado State. "We recognize the
importance of the Oval to the campus and the community, so we
brought together people with expertise and developed a plan in
conjunction with the public that we feel will help preserve this
important landmark."
Colorado State officials initially presented plans and
options for the Oval last spring. Based on feedback at that time,
university officials developed the proposal presented to the
public in September and October.
"This final plan reflects the many comments, concerns and
suggestions we received from the campus and community," Bomotti
said. "Through this process, we succeeded in involving many
different people who care about the future of the Oval."
Some key components of the plan announced by Colorado State
officials:
* Planting two new rows of elms in the shadow of the
existing double row of elms that line the allee, the Oval's
center walkway. The trees will be planted between, as well as 6
feet behind, the existing elms. The young trees eventually will
replace the center walkway's existing trees, which are 118 years
old.
* Planting elm trees slightly inside the row of trees that
line the Oval's quarter-mile perimeter in 30 to 40 years. The 31
trees lining the Oval perimeter are approximately 40 years
younger than the center walkway trees.
* Filling gaps left by trees that were removed from the
Oval's perimeter.
University crews in June planted American elms from Canada
to fill the holes in the perimeter. The remainder of the gaps in
the perimeter will be filled with Princeton elms, an American elm
variety. This planting is scheduled to begin in the spring.
A variety of American elm bred especially for Dutch elm
disease resistance--Valley Forge elms--will be "shadow planted"
in the allee. Valley Forge elms are a species of elm developed by
the U.S. National Arboretum. Bomotti said not enough of these
trees in appropriate sizes are now available. He said planting of
these trees in the center walkway will begin in six to eight
years. He also said university officials will work to identify a
single grower for the needed elms. As part of the overall plan,
university officials will ensure the existing elms are pruned to
allow the new trees enough sunlight to develop fully.
In addition to planting elms, university crews relocated
three Autumn purple ash trees that were planted randomly within
the Oval. These trees were moved to nearby areas.
A team of university horticulturists, faculty, staff,
students and Colorado State Forest Service specialists serve on
the campus' Tree Management Advisory Committee, which meets
regularly to evaluate the health of all campus trees. The
committee helped develop the university's plans for the Oval.
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