A fallen tree on Green Street in October 2019.
It’s the time of the year when we notice the trees as they change color, produce apples and drop leaves that crunch beneath our shoes.
But, sometimes, they’re just a headache.
Therefore, Harrisburg is launching a new initiative to help low-income households trim and remove old trees.
“If you can’t take care of these trees, the city will do its best to take care of these trees for you,” said Parks and Facilities Director Dave Baker, appearing on last Friday’s edition of Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s “Community Conversations” on Facebook Live.
For applicants who meet the income requirements, the city will remove and trim dead, dangerous and overgrown trees for free.
Baker explained that all trees along the city sidewalks and streets in front of homes are the homeowners’ responsibility. This program seeks to aid those who can’t afford to maintain them, he said.
“If a program like this weren’t in place, it would probably be an enormous burden on a lot of homeowners,” Papenfuse said.
Last Tuesday, City Council approved a budget reallocation that includes $252,000 for the tree removal project. The money came from unused Department of Parks and Recreation funds.
The funds must be used by the end of the year, Baker said.
Papenfuse said that the maintenance of trees can play a role in improving street lighting and public safety.
“This is an opportunity to reprogram that money and put it into something people really want to see,” he said.
As fall begins, Harrisburg officials also discussed the leaf collection process, which remains the same as in years past.
Yard waste pickup began Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 1, said Jeff Baltimore, public works operations manager. Residents must put their leaves in biodegradable bags, which can be purchased or picked up from Harrisburg’s Department of Public Works office for free, he said.
Residents should place bags on the curb the night before street sweeping, Baltimore said.
When leaves begin to fall more heavily, the city will utilize their leaf vacuums to collect fallen foliage on the streets, he said.
Speaking of clean streets, street-sweeping will continue this year through the fall and winter months, said Charlotte Katzenmoyer, chief operating officer of Capital Region Water. In the past, CRW often paused street-sweeping once temperatures regularly dropped below freezing.
CRW recently began operating its own street sweepers instead of contracting out for the operation and is now collecting about double the trash as before, Katzenmoyer said.
The new sweepers are also better at collecting larger debris, she said.
“Litter doesn’t stop just because of the seasons,” Katzenmoyer said. “We are going to continue street-sweeping year round.”
To watch past Community Conversations, visit the city’s YouTube channel. For more information on Harrisburg’s tree removal program or to apply, visit https://harrisburgpa.gov/trees/. Information and updates on city services can be found here.
