Swampscott neighborhood purchases trees

SWAMPSCOTT – Some Manton Road residents took it upon themselves to purchase public shade trees for their street.As Lynne Berk watched a 12-14-foot maple tree being planted in front of her home Wednesday, she commented on how much nicer the street looks.?We’ve been here 29 years and there used to be a lot more trees here,” she said. “Over the years the trees had to be taken down for one reason or another. The street looks much better with the trees.”Her husband, Bob Berk, added his neighbor Mary O’Hare was the driving force behind the effort to plant public shade trees on the small street, which is located off Beach Bluff Avenue.?She (O’Hare) organized everything,” he said. “She had kids give out fliers to neighbors, talked to the town and arranged everything. It was a great idea and it is working out perfectly.”Sara Schecter and her husband Jack purchased two maple trees and the DPW planted the trees in front of their home.?It was a good idea,” she said. “It gives the neighborhood the look it used to have.”Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta said the residents got together and purchased eight maple trees, which cost $185 each.?She (O’Hare) rallied some of her neighbors together,” he said. “They got together and purchased eight trees. It’s a big benefit to the town. We really appreciate residents stepping up.”Cresta explained Town Meeting appropriates $4,000 annually to purchase shade trees, which are planted on public property. Cresta said that it buys 20 shade trees a year, which is not enough to meet the demand.?We have more requests for trees than we have money to purchase the trees, so there is a waiting list,” Cresta said. “Right now we have almost a three-year waiting list of residents who requested we plant trees on town property. We fulfill the requests in the order they are received.”Cresta said the DPW plants the trees so it is not necessary to hire an outside contractor, which saves the town money. Cresta said it takes a three-man crew approximately a week to plant 20 trees.