[CANUFNET] skating rinks & flooding trees

[Brad Gurr]

I agree with Mark, 

We converted a traditional hockey rink into a treed skating area at a local community center 15 years ago and have had no problems. 

Increased " abuse" of the tree bark and branches from rubbing carving and removal excluded.
Snow clearing equipment and some flooding machines could be a problem also.

I would not flood up to the basal flare, but would leave a 1 foot buffer around the trunk instead.

Brad Gurr

Brad Gurr  " Dedicated to the Care and Preservation of Trees"

--- On Fri, 6/27/08, Mark Peterson <mpa at golden.net> wrote:
From: Mark Peterson <mpa at golden.net>
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] skating rinks & flooding trees
To: "Canadian Urban Forest Network" <canufnet at list.web.net>
Date: Friday, June 27, 2008, 1:01 AM

Hello Netami:
One issue that comes to mind is trunk damage occurring from people impacts, 
shovels and other ice clearing equipment, and skates if ice making occurs 
adjacent to or around the trees.

Mark Peterson, BES, MLArch, OALA
Mark Peterson & Associates, Landscape Architect
(519)743-2990        www.openspacesolutions.com


---- Original Message ----- 
From: <netami.stuart at utoronto.ca>
To: "Canadian Urban Forest Network" <canufnet at list.web.net>
Cc: <netami at pmalarch.ca>
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:32 AM
Subject: [CANUFNET] skating rinks & flooding trees


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






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