The heart of downtown Portland is about to witness a change in its urban canopy. The city's first Heritage Tree, an iconic elm standing sentinel since the 1870s, has reached the end of its leafy life.
Recognized as Heritage Tree #1 and situated at 1111 SW 10th Ave., this elm — a token of Portland's legacy and a nod to prominent social reformer Rosetta F. Burrell — has succumbed to the toll of recent weather disturbances, according to Portland Parks & Recreation. With safety emerging as a prime concern, after the tree experienced severe damage and a marked decline in health, officials have decided to remove it.
In its prime, the Burrell elm bore witness to a Portland vastly different from today's urban sprawl, dating back to when only 90,000 people called the city home and horses were a preferred mode of transit. The elm, receiving its historical status in 1975, was featured as the forebear when Portland initiated its Heritage Tree Program in 1993. "This is Portland’s first Heritage Tree, but also likely the oldest elm in Oregon," heritage tree historian David-Paul B. Hedberg told Portland Parks & Recreation. "It’s a credit to Rosa Burrell and marks the moment when we stopped being ‘Stumptown’ and started being a tree town."
The decision to remove the tree was not made lightly, with extensive evaluations by Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry team confirming that the tree had lost its vigor and structural integrity.“The tree’s decline is due to unique storm events and its inability to recover from drastic canopy loss and structural impacts. After thorough evaluations by multiple experienced staff with specialized technical skills, it’s clear that removal is the safest and most responsible course of action. Its iconic appearance, cooling shade, and greening presence in the neighborhood will be missed by many Portlanders.” City Forester Jenn Cairo conveyed. Despite the lack of evidence pointing to Dutch Elm Disease, the team anticipates traffic and pedestrian detours in the area come early August when the removal takes place, with plans to plant a replacement in 2025.
