The work to remove and replace Callery pear trees planted in the Bowling Green’s downtown area will resume later this month. Beginning the week of Oct. 28, the city’s urban forester will be removing the Callery pears located in Lot 1 and the Community Commons (alleyway between Insomnia Cookies and Sterling’s Amish Deli).
The removal of the trees will take two to three days to complete. The Callery pear trees will be replaced at a later date, pending the completion of the Alleyway Improvement Project and the Lot 1 Revitalization Project.
Intermittent parking and alleyway access restrictions will be necessary as this project progresses. Tree removal areas where crews are working will be clearly marked.
The Callery pear trees were originally planted in the Downtown as part of Heritage 2000 and are nearing the end of their estimated lifespan of 20-25 years. In January 2023, Callery pear was added to the list of banned invasive plants in Ohio, making it illegal to produce, plant, or sell these trees in the state.
Callery pear is a tree species that is highly invasive. An invasive species is a non-native species that causes harm to the environment, economy, human, animal, or plant health. Callery pear is particularly invasive because it spreads and reproduces so easily that it overtakes natural areas and chokes out other desirable native species. Cultivars and varieties of Callery pears include Cleveland select, Whitehouse, Bradford, among others.
The ban does not regulate existing plants, so residents should not worry if this tree is currently planted on their property. However, removal of existing trees will aid in the reduction of the spread of this plant. Over time, the city’s urban forester will be strategically removing and replacing Callery pears that are planted on city property and rights-of-way with the most recent focus being in the Belleville Acres area. Trees removed in this area will be replaced this fall.
For more information, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources webpage: https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/invasive-plants/callery-pear
