Monday, July 14, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – Some trees being removed from the Halifax Common will get a second life and dozens more will be planted as part of the neighbourhood renewal and public art components of the North Park Intersection Redesign project.

Over the coming weeks residents will notice that some trees will be removed during the construction of the first of two roundabouts planned for North Park Street.

Four of the largest trees that come down will be transformed into custom benches in the new green space that will be created on the Halifax Common. This was a popular idea with residents when it was suggested as an option for public art during the public engagement sessions.

Over the two years of this project, crews will plant 124 new trees and another 30 currently in the area will be candidates for transplantation to another area of the Halifax Common.

The tree management plan for the North Park Intersection Redesign project is based on the recommendations of the Urban Forest Master Plan, which Regional Council approved in 2012 to guide new tree planting. The planting locations for the new trees take into account the recommendations from the Halifax Common Plan, adopted in 1994, for opening up and framing important views of the two national historic landmarks on North Park Street – the Halifax Armoury and the Halifax Citadel.

For more information on the Urban Forest Master Plan, please visit http://halifax.ca/property/UFMP/, and for details of the North Park Intersection Redesign, go to http://www.halifax.ca/traffic/NorthParkIntersectionRedesign.php.

Source: Release