Dover's removal of trees causes heartbreak. City official offers explanation.

Deb Cram, Foster's Daily Democrat
·4 min read

DOVER — Tree removal day arrived Monday, and some residents of Grove and Fifth streets were not happy.

Emily Szarka has lived here for 11 years. Pausing in front of the tree that has greeted her daily, she placed her hand on its bark and stood in silence, like she was holding the hand of an old friend. It will be gone by the time she returns home.

The neighborhood is part of a capital improvement project. Dover officials targeted Fifth and Grove streets for reconstruction to upgrade underground utilities and address drainage concerns and roadway/sidewalk conditions. All the trees on the streets standing in the way are being cut down and removed to clear the way.

“Some of us knew about it, but our landlords didn’t tell us about it until it was way too late,” Szarka said. “Some of these trees are so old, and it kills me that they are doing this. We only get to keep that one on that corner. It’s horrible; there’s tons of animals that aren’t going to have anyplace to live anymore.”

Dover resident Emily Szarka spends a moment reflecting Monday, May 20, 2024, as the city removes trees lining the sidewalks of Fifth Street, where she has lived for 11 years.
Dover resident Emily Szarka spends a moment reflecting Monday, May 20, 2024, as the city removes trees lining the sidewalks of Fifth Street, where she has lived for 11 years.

Some people posted emotional signs on the trees, wishing they could be saved.

Tree crews with cranes, claws, bucket trucks, chippers and chainsaws arrived. Roots of the big trees have come up pushing aside sidewalk panels, making a very uneven pathway. The city has been working with the land owners and got signed permission from each to proceed.

Tree removal and replacement part of $5.1 million city project

Trees are cut down and removed in the neighborhood of Fifth and Grove streets in Dover Monday, May 20, 2024, making room for the street reconstruction project.
Trees are cut down and removed in the neighborhood of Fifth and Grove streets in Dover Monday, May 20, 2024, making room for the street reconstruction project.

The Dover City Council at its March 27 meeting unanimously authorized awarding the construction bid for the Fifth and Grove reconstruction project to N. Granese & Sons of Salem, Massachusetts, for just over $5.1 million.

Dover Community Services Director John Storer explained the reason behind the work.

“I know trees evoke passion, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that some people might be frustrated," he said.

The city held a number of community meetings and passed out flyers. Property owners were informed as they worked with city officials but renters were not as involved in the process.

"If you could look at this from an engineering perspective, we can’t get in there to plow the sidewalks," Storer said. "Trees have uprooted the sidewalk panels and roots are coming up. If you can fast forward and think about the end results there will be better drainage, and we are working with the Conservation Commission and planting 19 new trees. The sidewalks are a safety issue and need to be ADA compliant.”

An old tree is mourned by a sign on it on Grove Street in Dover. It was one of many cut down Monday, May 20, 2024, making room for the Fifth Street and Grove Street Reconstruction Project.
An old tree is mourned by a sign on it on Grove Street in Dover. It was one of many cut down Monday, May 20, 2024, making room for the Fifth Street and Grove Street Reconstruction Project.

The city's plan calls for the new trees to have 25-30 years of life before being changed out.

“We are also concerned about the emerald ash borer, and need trees that can stand up to that," Storer said, referencing the invasive wood-boring beetle, which has destroyed trees across North America.

Kids climbing in trees brings out emotions

Chris Hobson has lived in the neighborhood for seven years. “It’s a quiet area, but I know Grove Street in particular has been rough on people’s vehicles.” Hobson said his main transportation is a unicycle. He doesn’t use the sidewalks. He has been riding since he was 12, and he now has a cycle with a fat tire and a hand break.

“I wish they could improve the streets without taking the trees," he said. "The signs kids left on the trees is heartwarming. It’s a pretty cool place. Kids are always out playing over there.”

"The trees were here before the road was," Szarka said. "There’s been a couple of kids that have been hanging out in that tree, and it makes me so happy to see them in the tree because you don’t see kids climbing trees anymore. ... Apparently they’re going to be replacing the trees but we are going to end up getting these tiny trees, not these gorgeous beauties.”

A worker uses a chainsaw to work his way down the limbs of a tree on Grove Street in Dover that neighbors say is 140 years old. This tree and others were cut down Monday, May 20, 2024, and hauled to make room a street reconstruction project.
A worker uses a chainsaw to work his way down the limbs of a tree on Grove Street in Dover that neighbors say is 140 years old. This tree and others were cut down Monday, May 20, 2024, and hauled to make room a street reconstruction project.

On Wednesday, one tree on Grove Street residents say was 140 years old was gone, leaving only a huge stump as seen on a post on Facebook. Resting on top was a vase containing flowers in sawdust.

City officials hope the change residents are experiencing will be seen as positive eventually.

“If you can picture what the Silver Street project became with beautiful sidewalks reconstruction, landscaping, lighting, better drainage, it will be worth it,” Storer said.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dover's removal of trees causes heartbreak: Here's why it's happening