In an effort to build funding for the Addison Township Parks and Recreation and its projects, the Parks and Recreation Committee (PRC) decided to seek bids for trees in the Watershed Preserve.
The preserve, located two miles north of Leonard between Rochester Rd. and Haven Rd., is a popular area for nature lovers and was an ex-Christmas Tree Farm, home to thousands of pine trees.
PRC Chairman Joe Schnur said the idea to get bids on the trees for profit came about five years ago but was then rejected by the Addison Township Board.
After the board saw photographs of the over population of the trees in the preserve, they changed their minds and agreed to the sale.
‘It’s also a part of the park that no one goes in because there are no trails through there,? Schnur said.
The PRC really wants to sell about 100 trees, but is looking for a contractor to bid on at least 50 of the blue spruce, green spruce and various other species trees.
The contractor must provide for the tree removal, plugging of the hole and must submit proof of liability insurance with a minimum amount of $1,000,000. Addison Twp. will provide the tree removal permit.
Schnur said the money received from the tree sale will be put towards projects the PRC is currently involved in, but will also be a basis for future income.
Among the projects, Schnur said the PRC would like to build a basketball half-court on the playground, a picnic area and have the baseball field leveled and seeded.
The man made lake in the preserve is apt to overflow at times, so they also want to provide an overflow area on the west side of the lake.
Most importantly, though, is creating a new entrance to the preserve. Schnur said they need a more visible entrance and that the money received would probably not cover all of the cost, but it would be a start.
The removal of the trees wouldn’t be detrimental to the preserve, according to Schnur, because there’s just so many of them and because the holes will be appropriately filled in.
Sealed bids for the sale of the trees must be submitted to the Addison Twp. Clerk’s office (1440 Rochester Rd.) by December 28, 2005 and will be brought before the board on January 16, 2006. All trees must be removed between February 1, 2006-February 1, 2007.
To set up an appointment to inspect the trees with Schnur, please call (248) 628-7906.