City prioritizing clearing limbs in streets, hardest hit neighborhoods
The City of Fort Wayne has made clearing the remaining tree limbs from streets the first priority in the ongoing tree limb clean-up. The Parks and Recreation Department has three crews out currently cutting limbs and chipping branches that remain in the street.
Crews from Public Works and City Utilities are in each quadrant of the city, working to clear limbs from some of the hardest hit neighborhoods.
“The number of downed limbs and fallen tree branches is unprecedented in recent history,” said Mayor Tom Henry. “This clean-up isn't going to happen in a week. We are working hard to pick up the branches, but it's a labor-intensive process that takes time, probably a matter of months. Cooperation and patience from Fort Wayne residents is necessary as we work through the aftermath of this storm.”
Residents can place branches and limbs in the parkstrip or right of way 'where they would place leaves for pick up ' for City crews to pick up in the future or for more immediate removal, they can take them to the tree-branch drop-off sites or National Serv-All roll-off containers placed in some neighborhoods.
City residents can drop off tree limbs to:
· City Biosolids Facility Compost Site, 6210 Lake Ave., with hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday through Sunday. It will be closed Thursday. The fees for tree branch drop-off are being waived.
· Shoaff Park Christmas tree drop-off location by Conklin Pavilion during park hours
· Tillman Park by the ball fields during park hours
· Foster Park West at Winchester and Bluffton entrance during park hours
· Foellinger Theatre parking lot during park hours
· McMillen Park's pool parking lot during park hours
The City has also placed National Serv-All roll-off containers at the following locations for branches:
· Springbrook Road at the dead end by the park
· Cranbrook Drive at the dead end
· 2814 Fleetwood
· 2400 block of Edsall
· 3400 block of Harvester
· Heritage at Yorkshire
· Jimru Street between Graham and Wayside
· 6100 block of Salge Drive
· Concordia Gardens at the park off of Woodbrook
· Congress Avenue, west of Willmette Avenue
· 4400 block of Marquette Ave.
· Norma Court cul-de-sac
· 8700 block of Rummel Avenue
· 2400 block of Miner Street
The City is working on additional locations for branch containers and will release an updated list later this week. The roll-off containers are for brush and branches only, no other trash or debris, so the material can be chipped into mulch instead of going to the landfill.
“The City is offering a number of options for tree brush removal,” Henry said. “Some people may prefer to remove the branches themselves, or they can wait for us to get there. If able, you may also want to consider helping out an elderly or disabled neighbor who might have difficulty bringing the branches to the street.”
City ordinance prohibits burning the branches and debris.
The clean-up is ongoing following a harsh ice storm that hit Fort Wayne Dec. 19.