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About 100 trees removed for new road on University of Iowa medical campus
Some faculty, staff and students upset about not being involved in decision
Erin Jordan
Apr. 15, 2024 12:08 pm, Updated: Apr. 16, 2024 8:38 am
IOWA CITY — Some University of Iowa employees are angry campus planners decided to cut down about 100 trees to make way for a new road without warning faculty, staff and students.
The first new road on campus in at least a decade, the 1,500-foot artery and a connected roundabout will link Newton Road and the fountain entrance of the UI Hospitals and Clinics. This project will make way for construction of a new inpatient tower, the UI told The Gazette last fall.
But putting in new pavement means the UI had to remove or relocate 126 trees in March. As chain saws buzzed, many UI employees watched with surprise and dismay.
“We’re saddened by the College of Medicine’s decision to cut a grove of 70+ healthy, diverse new- and old-growth trees over spring break for temporary earthmover access and new roadways,” according to a letter employees plan to send the UI this week. “This decision was made without transparent communication with stakeholders …”
The group of medical and public health students, staff, faculty and emeritus faculty want to be involved in future decisions about removal of trees — which provide shade, reduce stress for humans who walk nearby and provide habitat for animals.
“We will collaborate with the UI Office of Sustainability and UI administration to work towards creating a stronger process for stakeholder involvement and transparency, with the initial goal of at least two stakeholder meetings regarding ongoing and future development plans,” the letter states.
Of the 126 trees located on the site of the new roadway, 23 were moved to other locations across the main campus and Oakdale campus, Stratis Giannakouros, director of the UI Office of Sustainability and the Environment, said in a prepared statement.
Planners also altered the road design to preserve three large oak trees UI arborists said would be difficult to replace. About 100 trees were removed, but will be replaced with new trees in this area or elsewhere on campus.
“The University of Iowa prioritizes the preservation and care of trees on our campus, and plants about 300 new trees every year,” Giannakouros said. “Whenever a tree needs to be removed due to health concerns, natural disasters, or campus development, we ensure that two to three trees are planted elsewhere on campus. The campus is home to more than 8,000 trees and has been officially recognized as a level II accredited arboretum through ArbNet.”
Crews will plant 86 trees on the site of the road construction project, which is expected to be substantially complete by this fall. The location of the remaining tree plantings will be determined once the design work for the new inpatient tower is completed in 2026.
A UI website providing details about the road project says construction would be started this spring and would include relocation of utilities. It does not mention tree removal. The projected cost of the road project, expected to be mostly complete by next fall, is $17.5 million.
Employees critical of the way tree removal was handled said they strongly support development of a new inpatient tower.
The $1 billion inpatient tower will be built just west of UIHC, where Parking Ramp 1 and the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center are located. The tower will include multiple floors of inpatient beds for adult care, as well as an inpatient surgery area, space for pathology, radiology and pharmacy and a public space at the top with views of Kinnick Stadium.
Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com