The street trees in Kusunoki-cho, Ashiya City (along the JR railway tracks and the former bus route) are reportedly set to be replaced around this winter. Ashiya City is conducting a survey to decide which species should be planted afterward.
↑This notice is posted at the site. It explains why the trees are being replaced, which roads are affected, and details about the survey.
The trees being replaced are Chinese tallow trees and tree-of-heaven. They reportedly have a range of issues, including aging, growing too large, developing hollow trunks, and roots lifting the sidewalks. They have also been designated as invasive species on Hyogo Prefecture’s blacklist.
Quoted from the survey page
Two roads are covered by the project: ① Along the JR railway tracks (approximately 400 meters east to west, 73 trees in total) and ② The former bus route (approximately 160 meters north to south, around 20 trees).
↑The street trees along the former bus route. Businesses and facilities along this road include 「串かつ あーぼん」, 「ポピンズ小規模保育園芦屋」, and 「グリーンライフさち」.
↑They really have grown quite large—some are tall enough to reach the power lines.
The candidates for the new trees include trident maple, Kousa dogwood, and flowering dogwood, and the survey asks respondents to choose one. Flowering dogwoods are also planted along Hanamizuki-dori in Kuregawa-cho.
Here’s roughly where the area is on the map↓
It is south of the JR railway tracks and just north of National Route 2.
For inquiries, contact the Roads and Parks Division, Urban Infrastructure Office, Urban Policy Department, Ashiya City (TEL: 0797-38-2065).
Finally
Since the scenery along a road people use every day is going to change, this may be a good opportunity to share your opinion. The response deadline is Tuesday, August 25. Take the survey here → Survey on Tree Species After Replacement
街路樹に求めるもの、いちばんはどれ？
