[CANUFNET] skating rinks & flooding trees

[netami.stuart at utoronto.ca]

Hi all,

We're redesigning a park in downtown Toronto where residents flood the  
open field area every winter to make a small informal skating rink  
contained by snowbanks.

There are a number of mature trees on the site adjacent to the area  
that is flooded: a couple of Silver Maples both around 30 cm DBH in  
good health and a couple of Austrian Pines also around 30 cm, one with  
more diplodia, lots of sapsucker holes and a lean, the other in fair  
health.

In the past, the neighbours have flooded up to the dripline of the  
trees, but they want to expand their rink.  In our discussions with  
the community they have inquired whether it would be harmful to flood  
right up to the tree stems and skate among the trees.  I didn't know  
the answer, but thought someone on this list might.  The trees are  
planted in a relatively flat park lawn and there are no roots showing  
above ground at this time.  In fact, it looks as if the trees have  
been slightly backfilled. The rink flooding only takes place once the  
ground has frozen and naturally melts in the spring. I have not yet  
obtained soils information on the park, but it is available.

I also wonder what the effect of winter flooding would be on newly  
planted trees that may be part of our re-design.

Any insights would be appreciated.

Best Regards,

Netami Stuart
P M A LANDSCAPE  ARCHITECTS
224 Wallace Ave, #321, Toronto, ON, M6H 1V7
t: 416-239-9818	f: 416-239-1310    e: netami at pmalarch.ca
www.pmalarch.ca