Memorial Day, 2019 will be well-remembered in Pendleton’s history. Roughly 4 months since that eventful night, we are still feeling the effects of the EF2 tornado that ripped through our small town’s fabric. For many, the loss of property, damage to homes, and loss of trees still feels overwhelming.  For others, the details of repairing and rebuilding are just now coming together.  We still have a long way to go, however the palatable spirit of resilience is strong - Pendleton is strong, and Pendleton will emerge stronger tomorrow than-ever-before in our town’s nearly 200 years of history.  Seeing the hashtags #pendletonstrong and #wearebettertogether resound with a civic pride that well up a feeling of proud belongingness.  Like many of you, I am happy to call Pendleton, Indiana home.

My name is Taylor Metz.  I am a professor of Landscape Architecture at Ball State University and practice landscape architecture here locally.  In addition, I chair Pendleton’s Urban Forestry Committee – a group committed to the health and well-being of Pendleton’s trees and urban forest.   If you are happily surprised that this organization exists, let me give you a little history!
 

The origins of this group dates to 1993 when a municipal tree ordinance was established to regulate the care of Pendleton’s public street trees.  The group was most recently re-formed in 2015.  Since that time, the committee has coordinated the completion of a town street and park tree inventory, organized annual Arbor Day events, raised funds for tree planting projects, and hosted tree care workshops.  The outdated 1993 ordinance was most recently modernized and adopted in 2018 along with a new Tree Care Manual.  (For those community members wanting to know what types of trees to replant in front of their homes or on their properties, this manual is a must read and is full of useful information!)  The Committee also worked to update our inventory of public trees and create a public tree management plan.

Caring for trees and public greenspace is incredibly important.  As Central Indiana’s metropolitan area continues to expand, one can witness first-hand the tangible priority of municipalities to preserve, maintain, and/or develop green infrastructure.  In other words, as towns and cities grow, their citizens understand the importance of green spaces & green places.  We see this as evidenced by the creation of walking trails and greenways, the preservation of natural areas for public enjoyment, the creation of parks, the restoration of waterways, and more.  But why?  What does this do for a community?  How does it strengthen a sense of place? Why is it even important?
 

Urban Planner, Ed McMahon suggests, “If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are”.  In this perspective, a community’s unique and valued environment is inextricably tied to its identity.  Trees, and the creation/preservation of natural spaces that provide innumerable benefits both economically and for our quality of life – they help identify our unique sense of place.
 

Pendleton already has a rich history with the preservation of green infrastructure. How different would our town be without its park?  … without its iconic and historic residential and business district? … without its trees? … without the mighty stands of sycamores we all know and love? … without the large illustrious maples and oaks that line our streets?  Since the re-forming of the Pendleton Urban Forestry Committee, we’ve asked ourselves and our community these questions.  We’ve discussed at length, the value of our town’s iconic sense of place.  It is no wonder that for many, a great sense of loss was felt when many of our trees (that maybe once accompanied our childhood!), were toppled with the Memorial Day storm.  In all the stories I have heard in the last few months, the trees (while the cause of much damage) haven’t been painted in the darkest light.  In fact, many community members mourn their loss and are eager to restore our urban forest!
 

This energy and spirit of restoration is exciting to witness. It’s exciting to see people and groups mobilize and want to replant.  It’s exciting to hear about community organizations who have raised funds.  It’s exciting to work with local business who want to donate to help and restore Pendleton’s urban forest. There are some exciting tree planting projects in the works.  (If you want to know what types of street trees may be appropriate for in front of your home or local business, please see the Tree Care Manual!)
 

In closing, trees add to the unique character and familiar essence of a place.  When viewed as an amenity and properly cared for, Pendleton’s trees are assets that help identify the town we call home.
 

You can help us preserve, restore, and care for Pendleton's trees!  Please fill out our questionnaire and read Pendleton’s Tree Care Manual.  If you would like to attend a meeting, please join us. We meet every fourth Tuesday of the month at Town Hall from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.  More information can be found on the Town’s website.
 

Thank you reflecting with me,

Taylor Metz
Chair, Pendleton Urban Forestry Committee
tmetz@town.pendleton.in.us