- Lafayette College has planted trees and shrubs to make up for the ones removed
- But none of the replantings are going on the hillside that was cleared for a $1.2 million walkway project
- Work on the walkway that links campus to the Downtown is expected to wrap up this month
EASTON, Pa. — Months after a piece of College Hill was deforested without city approval for a $1.2 million Lafayette College walkway project, the college has planted dozens of trees.
But none on the slope where they were removed.
“They desecrated an area only nature can repair,” said Rob Christopher, city arborist and conservation manager. “Because it’s not safe.”
Crews were still working Tuesday, finishing up construction on the steep, serpentine walkway connecting the college to the Downtown.
After clearing dozens of trees and shrubs, the project violated the city’s steep slope conservation ordinance, which aims to mitigate sedimentation and erosion. Because of the extreme pitch of the hillside, trees cannot be replaced.
Instead, the college planted 45 trees and 36 shrubs across the College Hill campus and in the city.
“The historic step refurbishment has been completed with the steps open and lighting installed. Work on the Easton/College Hill Escarpment Hike-Bike Trail is expected to wrap up early this month.”Bryan Hay, Lafayette College spokesperson
“The historic step refurbishment has been completed with the steps open and lighting installed,” said Bryan Hay, Lafayette College spokesperson, in an email Thursday. “Work on the Easton/College Hill Escarpment Hike-Bike Trail is expected to wrap up early this month.”
Thick stumps dot the slope, which runs from behind the William E. Simon Center for Economics and Business on campus to the Karl Stirner trailhead at North Third Street.
Root structures are visible where crews cut into the dirt and rock to make room for the trail.
Clearing College Hill
More than 40 trees, along with a slew of foliage and shrubs, were removed this spring from College Hill to make way for a public, multimodal trail.
In early May, the city’s Environmental Advisory Council voted unanimously to send a letter of concern to the city council, citing the negative effects of clearing shade trees, as well as soil erosion and sedimentation concerns.
The original plans for the project, approved by the city on June 14, 2022, and viewed through a Right-to-Know request at City Hall in late May, show the vast majority of the trees would be retained. Instead, they were cleared.
City Chief Zoning Administrator Dwayne Tillman on May 15 sent a letter to the college, notifying officials that the walkway project had deforested a portion of a slope without city approval.
Less than two weeks later, the college resubmitted plans, including to plant 98 trees to replace 46 that were cut down during construction.
During a June meeting at City Hall to review the resubmitted plans, Tillman was asked if the college gave any reasoning for why the trees were cut down without approval.
He said officials cited safety and maintenance concerns, as some trees were dying. However, since the trees have been cleared, it is impossible to confirm the health status of those trees.
Over the months that LehighValleyNews.com has reported this story, Lafayette and city officials have deferred comment to Christopher, who in mid-July said he still hadn't seen the replanting plan.
Revised plans
Reached by email Tuesday, Tillman said the city’s engineering department accepted the revised plans for steep slope conservation. Asked if there was any additional work planned for the slope, he said, “As of right now, I have not received additional drawings for additional work.”
Trees and ground cover were earmarked to be planted on the hill starting this week, Hay said in the Thursday email, adding that some work had already started.
Earlier this month, the college marked the opening of the trail, touting the project as focused on “creating a safer and more accessible pathway for students, employees, residents and visitors to travel between Downtown Easton and the college.”
“Native trees will be planted in early October,” according to the college’s website. “Trees will be added to restore the forested hillside, across campus and in Scott Park, which will benefit the Easton community.”
Christopher on Tuesday confirmed that no trees would be added to the hillside that overlooks where North Third Street meets the foot of College Avenue.
The walkway was earmarked to be completed by mid-August, less than two years after Lafayette announced it had received a $869,694 grant to create a multi-use trail extending diagonally across the slope.
The college committed $372,726 for a project total of $1.2 million, according to a news release announcing the funding.
