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April 2009 News Archive
April 23, 2009
2009 Tree Hero Award Winners Announced
Sacramento Tree Foundation celebrates
C.K. McClatchy Award
Dan Pskowski
Dan Pskowski served tirelessly for 18-years as the City of Sacramento Arborist for Urban Forest Services. His commitment to our beloved urban forest extended well beyond his 8 to 5 job. Often he volunteered his own time to attend neighborhood meetings so that he could interact with and support Sacramento community members. Dan worked diligently to address the public’s concerns about tree care and removal while utilizing sound scientific principles of arboriculture. He was always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the best possible outcomes for trees and people alike. Dan understands that our urban forest is made up not only of trees, but also of the people who live beneath them. Dan has been a true champion for the cause of Sacramento trees. His years of dedication to preserving our historic trees and helping the next generation of trees grow-up healthy and strong is a major gift to our region.
Austin B. Carroll Award
Parker Development Company
Parker Development Company’s commitment to saving and protecting trees during the development process of two of its distinguished master planned new home communities, The Parkway and Serrano, serves as an incredible example of urban forest stewardship.
Throughout the decades-long building process of each community, Parker Development Company has taken great strides to integrate existing trees into their community design, as well as to plant new trees, providing a pleasing environment for hundreds of families who have chosen to live there.
The Parkway is comprised of 612 acres where the natural riparian environment, degraded by mining operations and high-intensity ranching back in the 1930s, was not only brought back to life but greatly improved. About 240 acres (40 percent) of The Parkway has been dedicated to open space, with oak woodlands, cottonwood forests, and seasonal wetlands preserved and enhanced. About seven miles of tree-lined trails meander along the restored riparian habitat now known as the Humbug-Willow Creek Parkway.
A characteristic of The Parkway is its large heritage oak trees that stand out in the landscape. The preservation and restoration of open space and the careful placement of roads and homes saved a total of 67 oaks, plus about 60 other tree species, including willows, cottonwoods, and black walnuts. An area of The Parkway with four heritage oaks became a “tot lot” – a park for young children that incorporated the trees, rather than removing them to make way for homes. The trees now provide shade for park visitors. In addition, more than 10,000 native trees and shrubs were planted by an environmental firm, resulting in a multi-layered vegetative canopy, and The Parkway’s homeowners are required to plant three trees in their front yards and two trees in their backyards.
Native majestic oaks are also the hallmark of the 3,500-acre community of Serrano, where every effort has been made to save as many oaks – and other trees – as possible during construction. For example, in Phase I of the custom home area, which consists of about 200 acres, only 15 acres of live oak trees were removed and no heritage oak trees were disturbed.
To date at Serrano, Parker Development Company has planted 28,000 oak acorns in open space plus 6,000 hearty cottonwoods. Another 3,600 trees have been planted in Serrano parks and common areas. Plus, homeowners have planted over 11,000 trees to meet design plan requirements. With gratitude, we honor Parker Development Company for keeping health, environmental stewardship, and quality of life at the center of their community building practices.
Legacy Award
Mature Walnut Trees in Rancho Cordova’s Walnutwood Neighborhood
At the Walnutwood Community Education Center in Rancho Cordova, you will find the strong and healthy remnants of an old English walnut orchard, which graced the property and surrounding area in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Sadly, many of the walnut trees fell victim to development and various homeowner projects in the last 20 years. Today, the seven mature walnut trees that remain are an important and integral part of the Walnutwood neighborhood. They define the neighborhood, give it’s people a sense of place, and give back countless environmental and health benefits.
These trees were never grafted onto black walnut stock, which is often the practice, so they are authentic, intact specimens of mature walnut trees. They stand as majestic reminders of the history of Rancho Cordova, offering homes to doves, magpies, jays, squirrels, and a host of other living creatures. They also provide much-needed shade and solace to the people living among them.
These seven remaining trees are really holdouts of the past. They deserve to be recognized for their inherent qualities and hidden prominence within our urban forest, and they remind us all of the importance of preserving and protecting our vital tree canopy.