The Parks Department employs full-time and seasonal employees to assist in the maintenance of all City parks, turnouts, service drives and specific boulevards. Maintenance duties would include grass mowing, hedge trimming, trash removal and playground equipment maintenance and repair.
 Related Links:

Large Brush and Branch Collection Program
Yard Waste Program
View City Parks and Beaches
 

“ADOPT A PARK”

Do you live near a city park or visit one daily? If you do, perhaps you would like the opportunity to help keep it in good shape. The City of Port Huron has an “ADOPT A PARK” program in which, individuals, organizations, church groups, business, or industry may choose to adopt one of our parks for one (1) year and be the extra “eyes and ears” to keep our parks looking their very best. Phone 810-984-9751 or 810-984-9760 for more information.

Below is a list of city parks available for “ADOPTION”:

11TH & DIVISION
12TH & JENKS (K.I.N.D.)
16TH & DOVE
19TH & DIVISION
GRATIOT PARK
HAYNES PARK
HERITAGE PARK ON THE QUAY
INTERNATIONAL FLAG PLAZA
KIEFER PARK
KNOX FIELD
LAKESIDE PARK
LIGHTHOUSE PARK
LINCOLN PARK
MANSFIELD TOT PARK
OPTIMIST PARK
PALMER PARK
PINE GROVE PARK
RENAISSANCE PARK
SANBORN PARK
SANBORN NATURE AREA
THOMAS EDISON PARKWAY

Forestry Division

If a resident notices a tree that may need to be trimmed or removed, they should first contact the Parks / Forestry Department at 810-984-9751.  A work order is placed and given to the Parks / Forestry Supervisor for review.  Only trees that are dead, dying or diseased will be removed. The Parks / Forestry Supervisor determines the work to be done and schedules it, according to priority.  If a tree is to be removed and the resident would like the wood, please indicate either to the Parks / Forestry Supervisor or at the time of the call.  Every effort is made to save trees by trimming disesed or dying sections.  Unfortunately, many trees will not recover from the disease process.

The Forestry Division maintains trees planted on the City right-of-way, boulevards, City parks, Lakeside Cemetery, City owned vacant lots, and open alleys. They do not trim or remove trees on private property.  If there is a question as to whether a tree is on the City right-of-way, contact the Right-Of-Way Inspector at 810-984-9733. Likewise, the department does not advise citizens who have problems with trees on private property.

If a tree on private property falls onto the City right-of-way, only that portion of the tree on City property will be removed. It will be up to the homeowner to remove the remainder of the tree and debris. If a tree on private property falls onto private property such as a neighbor's house or fence, again, it is up to the property owner to contact someone to remove the tree.

When a tree is trimmed by a homeowner, it is their responsibility to remove all debris. Small branches, less than 3" in diameter and cut to lengths under four (4) feet, can be put into paper yard bags or approved containers and placed with their regular trash for pick up. The City contracts with a waste removal company that provides pick up of yard debris April - November.

For information concerning removal of large brush and branches, please see "Large Brush and Branch Collection Program".

STUMP REMOVAL: When a tree is removed from the City Right-of-Way, it is cut above ground level. The Parks / Forestry Supervisor will then schedule stump grinding and removal.  Currently, we utilize a contractor to grind the stumps and then the stump holes will be filled by the Parks / Forestry crew.

TREE REMOVAL PERMIT: The City will not remove trees because they interfere with water or sewer lines, lift/damage sidewalks, or if the property owner wants to expand or install a driveway. If a property owner wants to remove a tree on the City Right-of-Way at their expense, they must first obtain permission from the Parks / Forestry Supervisor.  A written request, indicating the work to be performed and the name, address and phone number of the insured tree removal contractor needs to be sent to the Parks / Forestry Department.  If permission is granted for an insured contractor to perform the removal, a permit (no charge) is issued.  The Tree Removal Permit states that the contractor is responsible for any damage done to City property and will remove all debris.

TREE PLANTING PERMITS: If a property owner wants to plant a tree on the City Right-of-Way, they may choose a tree from the "RECOMMENDED" list below, mark the location (see Planting regulations) and call the Parks / Forestry Department for a site inspection.  The Parks / Forestry Supervisor reviews the request and inspects the location.  If permission is granted, a record is made of the address, number and type of tree(s) planted.  Information on proper tree planting techniques is available upon request.  The planting of vegetation on City Right-of-Ways is regulated by City ordinance, a copy of which follows:

Sec. 22 - 170 Planting regulations.

(a) No tree of any prohibited species shall be planted in any street or park, nor shall any such tree be planted on any private property within 50 feet of any street or sidewalk right-of-way or any sewer or sewer extension. Shade trees planted in any street right-of-way shall be spaced not less than 40 feet apart, except that trees may be planted less than 40 feet from an existing tree in the right-of-way, provided the existing tree has been approved for removal within a period of two years from the date of planting of the new tree. The owner of a single lot may, in order to provide a shade or ornamental tree in front of his lot, secure special permission from the department to have a tree planted closer than 40 feet from an existing tree, but in no case shall such planting be within 30 feet of any existing tree within the right-of-way.

(b) No tree shall be planted in any planting strip between the street proper and the sidewalk where the distance between the back of the curb and the sidewalk is less than three feet in width. No tree shall be planted nearer to the intersection of any streets than 25 feet from the corner of such intersection. (Code 1975, § 35-22; Code 1992, § 30-35)

RECOMMENDED:

Beech (American & European),
Elm hybrids only
Flowering trees: Crabapple, Dogwood, Horsechestnut, Ohio Buckeye, Eastern
               Redbud, Callery Pear, Magnolia
Maple - Crimson King, Freeman, Hedge, Norway Cultivars, Paperbark, Red, Shantung,
               Striped, Sugar, Tartarian
Oak - Burr, Pin, Red, Sawtooth, Shingle, Swamp and White
Miscellaneous species: Birch, Hackberry,Hornbeam (American), Ironwood, London
                Planetree, Littleleaf Linden, Honey Locust, Sweetgum (American), Tupelo
               and Tuliptree

PROHIBITED:

Mountain Ash
American Elms
Evergreens, Pine and Spruce
Ash - Green, Patmore, Seedless, Summit, or White
Maple - Silver
Box Elder
Poplar
Russian-olive
Willow

SNOW REMOVAL PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS: The Parks / Forestry crew is responsible for the removal of snow from a