The City of Beaufort will remove diseased and damaged Washingtonia palm trees from the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park this week. The work is being done at the Circle of Palms, where five trees are being removed; the west entrance of the park, where two trees are being removed, and the amphitheater, where 10 trees are being removed.
These trees have been impaired by a combination of fungal infection and freeze damage and either cannot be saved or are in severe decline, according to board-certified arborist Michael Murphy, who is contracted by the City to advise on tree issues.
“As the crown jewel of our public amenities, we always want Waterfront Park looking its best. The current Washingtonia palms will be replaced by Sabal palms, which are indigenous to South Carolina and should flourish in our park,” Marshall said.
Public Works schedule is as follows:
Monday April 10
- Staging of work, barricades installed to prepare for removal of palm trees at the waterfront
Tuesday April 11
- Circle of Palms tree removal all day
Wednesday April 12
- Circle of Palms tree removal and stump removal
- Tree work moves to sea wall
Thursday April 13
- Sea wall tree removal
- Stump removal remains at Circle of Palms
Friday April 14
- Sea wall tree removal and then moves to Amphitheater
- Stump removal moves to sea wall
Saturday April 15
- Tree removal at Amphitheater
- Stump removal at sea wall then moves to amphitheater
Monday April 17
Complete project
The new palm trees at the waterfront are expected to be planted by May 1st, pending the availability of the Sabal palms.
