RUMSON – Red Xs have been spray-painted on dozens of street trees along Center and Washington Streets, marking them for removal as the borough’s $1.3 million road improvement project gets under way.
The trees, of various species, are growing in the 10- 18 inch borough right-of-way, between the curb and sidewalk. Because the roads are going to be torn up and new sidewalks installed, the trees must come out, said Borough Administrator Tom Rogers. Their growing roots can cause the buckling of new sidewalks, bulging of curbs and disruption to road drainage – which can result in safety problems for cyclists and pedestrians. They will not be replaced, he said.
“We are not in the business of killing trees,” said Rogers, who said he received a handful of calls from homeowners unhappy to see their leafy streetscape permanently altered. “We are in the business of building roads and sidewalks. The last time the road was paved was 1972.”
Marked for removal are 18 trees on Center Street, 29 on Washington Street, two trees on Avenue of The Two Rivers, and one tree on Ward Lane.
Rogers cited a borough policy that trees are not to be planted in the borough right- of-way. He said he did not know who planted the trees over the years.
“I’ll be really disappointed if this happens,” said Rachel Komtometros, who lives on Center Street. “It will completely change the streetscape.”
A sign posted on one of the trees, presumably by a resident, declared it was a protected Princeton Elm. “Do not cut down,” the sign writer pleaded, adding that the tree could be minimally pruned in order put in new sidewalk or curbs.
The road improvement project is expected to last two months. The contract has been awarded to S. Brothers Inc. of South River.
The scope of the work was described to residents in a May 8 letter from Mayor John Ekdahl, and discussed in an informational meeting for residents attended by the Borough Administrator, Superintendent of Public Works and Borough Engineer on May 18, said Rogers.
Some residents are unhappy “We don’t get the ocean breeze here, so the sun can be intense,” said Center Street resident Mary Bader. “I want to be able to entertain guests on my porch without them sweating. That’s why I live here. But without the shade of the trees, you can’t do that.”
Her neighbor Eric VonArx agreed, adding, “The trees fight pollution, saves us money on air conditioning, and it maintains our privacy. Without the trees, you’re looking directly across the street into your neighbor’s window.”
–By Christina Johnson and Conner White
