Millcreek Township

Millcreek Township, PA sycamore tree	Kirk Johnson
	Aug 29, 2005 10:35 PDT

Some people in Millcreek Township, PA (near Erie) are trying to prevent an
old sycamore tree in a public park from being removed. Is the gentleman
correct in describing this as a champion tree?

I'm not familiar with this specific issue, so I don't know if anything can
be done to save the tree. But I've been asked to help.

Thank you,

Kirk Johnson

----- Original Message -----
From: Joyce-@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 4:12 PM
Subject: park at 2000 zimmerly road

Please if at all possible, to stop Millcreek Township ruin a beautiful
endowed park with a century old sycamore tree. The sewer dept wants to
put up a holding tank on this park. The endowment actually stated that this
six acres be a park and no trees under any circumstance should be cut down.
Please help in the battle ---we do have a lawyer working on this matter.
But I am afraid it will all happen regardless to this endowment. Thank
You very much....

Joyce Miko
Erie, Pa. 16509

----- Original Message -----
From: BMiko-@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 2:47 PM
Subject: CHAMPION TREE

HELLO,
I NEED YOUR HELP. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A CHAMPION SYCAMORE TREE LOCATED IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. THE MUNICIPAL WANTS TO CUT IT DOWN FOR EXPANSION OF THE
SEWER PLANT. THERE ARE SIX VACANT ACRES ADJACENT TO THIS TREE . THE
MUNICIPAL CAN USE THE SIX ACRES FOR EXPANSION, BUT DUE TO A CONSTRUCTION
COST ISSUE THE MUNICIPAL WANTS TO REMOVE THE TREE AND SET UP SHOP IN THE
TREE'S PLACE. THE SYCAMORE TREE HAS A CIRCUMFERENCE OF 192", A HEIGHT OF
APPROX. 85' . THE TREE IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER TWO HUNDRED YRS. OLD. PLEASE
HELP ..

RE: Millcreek Township, PA sycamore tree	Robert Leverett
	Aug 29, 2005 11:12 PDT

Kirk:

Calls for help such as this one always tug at the heart strings. But
as you evidently are aware, often little can be done. The tree may be a
local champ, but 16 feet in circumference is well below the kinds of
circumferences that we're accustomed to for really large sycamores and
certainly those of state-wide champion status. There are at least two
sycamores in NY that measure over 26 feet in circumference and both are
considerably taller than the one mentioned. The Pine Plains sycamore in
eastern New York is slightly over 26 feet around and between 114 and 115
feet in height. Howard Stoner measured a sycamore of similar dimensions
in southeastern NY closer to NYC.

Perhaps Dale Luthringer can add to the above. Dale?

Bob

RE: Millcreek Township, PA sycamore tree	wad-@comcast.net
	Aug 29, 2005 11:54 PDT

Kirk

Unfortunately the tree is no where near champion status for the state of Pa. The current champ has over 500 points. There are many 20'+ cbh trees in Se Pa alone. You would think the cost of removing the tree would be prohibitive. That would have to be several thousand in removal fees. Sorry I can't be of much help.

Scott

RE: Millcreek Township, PA sycamore tree	Dale J. Luthringer
	Aug 29, 2005 16:13 PDT

Kirk,

I’ll try and run up and measure it next time I’m up in Erie (maybe two
weeks from now). I’ve been all over that county in the woods looking
for big trees, but don’t make it into the parks too often. What Bob and
Scott said holds true though. I’m sure it’s a nice tree, but it
certainly has a long way to go to reach record status.

Dale

Re: Millcreek Township, PA sycamore tree	Kirk Johnson
	Aug 29, 2005 20:58 PDT

Dale, Bob, Scott,

Thanks for the great information about champion sycamores, that's good to
know. Maybe it's possible that this could be a "champion" tree for Erie
County? That would be something in its favor anyway. The biggest sycamore I
think I've ever seen was when I was on a tree-trimming crew working the
street trees in Toledo, OH many years ago. We spent half a day trimming the
lower limbs on this one tree away from houses (plural) in the neighborhood.
That thing was massive and towered above the two-story homes, spreading out
all over the place. That's always stuck in my memory.

Kirk

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