Gibbons Sidewalks and Trees Project Information

The City conducted the assessment to better understand the health, structure, and long-term viability of the sweetgum trees along Gibbons Drive, as well as how they interact with sidewalks, curbs, and other public infrastructure. Many residents have experienced sidewalk damage, accessibility issues, and ongoing repairs. The assessment provides objective, expert information to help guide future decisions.

The assessment was conducted by HortScience | Bartlett Consulting, an independent arboricultural consulting firm. The work was performed by certified, experienced consulting arborists with expertise in managing large, mature street trees in urban environments.

A total of 117 sweetgum trees along Gibbons Drive were assessed.

• 89 trees were found to be in good condition
• 24 trees were found to be in fair condition
• 5 trees were found to be in poor condition

Overall, the assessment found that the tree population is in good condition for its age, with many trees approaching 100 years old. However, the trees have outgrown the limited planting space available and are causing widespread sidewalk and curb damage.

Five trees were identified as being in poor condition due to extensive internal decay, structural instability, and/or significant lean. According to the consulting arborist, these conditions cannot be corrected through pruning or other treatments and will continue to worsen over time. For these trees, removal is recommended to address safety concerns.

Tree removal is never taken lightly. In this case, the recommendations are based on documented structural issues and long-term risk, not sidewalk damage alone.

This is a complex issue that the City has been monitoring for many years. As the trees have continued to mature, the frequency and severity of sidewalk and curb damage has increased, along with concerns about pedestrian safety and ADA accessibility. We can no longer delay developing a comprehensive, community-informed plan that balances pedestrian safety, neighborhood character, accessibility, and preservation of the urban tree canopy.

Preserving healthy trees wherever feasible remains the City's objective. Not removing trees continues to be an important part of every proposed approach. For example, under the location-by-location, phased removal approach, each location will first be evaluated to determine whether the sidewalk and curb can be repaired while preserving the tree. If root pruning is feasible and allows the sidewalk to be restored, that would be our preferred approach. If the sidewalk is in good condition but the curb is damaged, a curb bulb-out may allow the tree to be preserved while repairing the curb and maintaining stormwater flow. Tree removal would only be considered when the necessary infrastructure repairs cannot reasonably be made while preserving the tree.

The five trees recommended for removal were identified in the Tree Assessment Report by tree number. These trees were individually evaluated and found to have significant decay or structural defects that cannot be safely mitigated.

Residents directly adjacent to the removal locations received advance notice before these trees were removed in April 2026.

There are currently no plans for specific Liquidambar trees to be removed.

The City will continue its established two-year pruning cycle for the remaining sweetgum trees, which is more frequent than the City’s standard pruning schedule for street trees.

This enhanced pruning is intended to:

• Improve tree structure
• Reduce the likelihood of branch failure
• Maintain clearance over sidewalks, streets, and driveways

No additional removals are planned at this time beyond the five trees identified in the assessment. Barring any unforeseen circumstances such as unexpected damage to a healthy tree, any future decisions about tree removal would be part of a broader, community-informed planning process and would consider tree health, public safety, infrastructure needs, and preservation goals together.

Sweetgum trees are a large-growing species with extensive surface roots. Along Gibbons Drive, the planting area between the curb and sidewalk is narrow—generally only a few feet wide. As the trees have matured, their roots have lifted and displaced sidewalks, curbs, and even portions of the street.

The assessment found that damage is widespread and, in many locations, severe. Simply repairing sidewalks without a broader plan can accelerate tree decline or create new safety issues.

In some cases, minor repairs are possible. However, many sidewalk repairs would require cutting or removing major roots, which can destabilize trees or lead to decline and eventual removal. The consultant noted that traditional repair methods are often incompatible with preserving large, mature trees in such limited space.

Community discussion has focused on alternative design approaches, such as sidewalk realignment, bulb-outs, or other creative solutions that may better balance safety and tree preservation. Moving sidewalk to the streetside of the trees will create too narrow of a road for emergency vehicle access. Other ideas such as bulb-outs and temporary repairs of sidewalks after completed root pruning may still be considered depending on the conditions of each site. The discussion also explored phased removal and a replanting plan.

All plans for Gibbons Drive include tree replanting if a Liquidambar is removed. Because of the history of root damage along Gibbons Drive, the consultant recommends considering species other than sweetgum and coordinating new plantings carefully with available space, infrastructure, and long-term maintenance needs. We want the community to inform the tree species palette for replanting.

The community meetings and ongoing public engagement provide time to:

• Review the assessment findings in more detail
• Discuss potential approaches for future tree management and sidewalk improvements
• Hear from residents about their experiences, concerns, and priorities
• Shape a long-term, comprehensive plan together 

Read the full Tree Inventory and Assessment Report.

You can also subscribe for email updates (select "Gibbons Sidewalks and Trees Plan" under the City Projects section).