Warsaw Park Board during its meeting Tuesday night approved replacing 21 ash trees in Central Park with maple trees. The trees have been infested by the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, according to Shaun Gardner, parks department maintenance director. The beetle is an invasive insect that has larva that gets into the bark and kills the trees. “We would like to be proactive in replacing the trees,” Gardner said. There are funds in this year’s budget for the tree replacement, according to Larry Plummer, Warsaw parks department director. Gardner said the trees will be replaced by next spring. There are 14 trees along Canal Street in Central Park, one by the east picnic shelter in the park and six other trees in the park that will be replaced. The cost to replace the 21 trees is $8,209, Gardner said. “It’s inevitable if you don’t treat the trees Emerald Ash Borer will get to your ash trees as we are experiencing in Central Park right now,” Plummer said. In other business, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer swore in new board member Larry Ladd. Ladd replaces John Sadler who resigned from the board. Board President Bill Baldwin also was sworn in to again serve as president. Plummer informed the board the Young Tiger Football organization raised $1,606 selling concessions during the light display in Central Park. The funds will go toward purchasing lights for next year’s display. Plummer said the department would like to purchase light emitting diode lights next year.
