By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Downtown Whitewater is looking greener after a coordinated effort between civic leaders and city staffers.
Streets superintendent Chuck Nass came before the Common Council on June 2 with an update on recent tree plantings that have taken the place of at least a half-dozen ash trees that were removed along the city’s downtown shopping district.
Nass said a variety of different species have been planted up and down the main thoroughfare. Most of the trees are within the oak family.
“There are large varieties and small varieties, and they’re meant to provide ornamental shade,” Nass said. “None of the trees will have nuts. We don’t want there to be any problems with cars.”
Nass said significant planning went into planting the new trees. Case in point: each of the trees are intended to grow straight up, rather than sideways, so storefronts are not blocked.
“We’re hoping to see some major growth in the whole area,” he said.
In addition to the tree plantings themselves, the project included revamped sidewalk cutouts and planting a series of small shrubs, flowerbeds and other greenery to complement the trees.
While the basic footprint of the tree plantings closely mirrors what had lined the street before, Nass said some tweaks have also been introduced to accommodate pedestrian enhancements and other recent construction work in the area.
Other streetscape furniture, including park benches, have been installed in the area to complement the tree plantings.
Nass said the project was a coordinated effort between the city and such groups as Downtown Whitewater Inc.
