Neighbors who care for their tree-lined streets!

Is cutting down many of our street trees the best way to prevent power outages and cracked sidewalks? We don’t think so!

Duquesne Light Co. has begun cutting down street trees in Wilkinsburg as part of a plan approved by the Borough Manager in January of 2025. A total of 50 trees are on the list to be either cut down or cut back. We want the slated cutting to be halted until the Borough can implement a forest management plan. We think that our street trees are important enough to warrant waiting a relatively short amount of time until a proper assessment and plan can be put in place. 

Background

In the 800 and 900 blocks of East End Avenue, six mature oak trees were cut down the week of July 21 by Penn Line, a vegetation management company contracted by Duquesne Light. Adjacent property owners were either told the trees would be “trimmed” or were not informed at all, and no permits were sought by Penn Line or granted by Wilkinsburg Borough (both of which are requirements of the Borough for street tree removal). 

Cutting down these trees was a shock to the neighborhood and has dramatically impacted the quality of life for the residents and neighbors. The area no longer has the welcoming, classic “tree-lined street” feel it had been known for. The street is noticeably hotter, and gardens and grass have died back with a sudden loss of shade; electricity use has already increased significantly in the short time since the trees were cut. In addition, sidewalks below the trees were cracked and yards damaged from falling chunks. We recognize the need for appropriate tree management to maintain both the electric lines and the public thoroughfares, but all of the trees cut were healthy and had been effectively maintained with minimal trimming for decades prior to this action. 

Concerned residents attended a Wilkinsburg Council Working Meeting on August 6th, 2025. At this meeting, a list was provided of 50 total trees slated to be either cut down or cut back in the area, including notes on the reasons, such as “die back from topping” (indicating prior damage from improper trimming), “sidewalk damage re code” (sidewalk maintenance being the property owner’s responsibility), and “contact with primaries” (which had not previously caused issues). The list had been prepared in January of 2025 and the recommendations came in part from an arborist the Borough had newly hired, Horhut Tree Experts.

If the criteria for removing trees are:

• the trunks are against or near power lines
• the roots are causing sidewalks to buckle
• there is die back from improper trimming

...then almost all of the street trees in Wilkinsburg and surrounding areas would be cut down!

In addition, many of the trees on the list are oaks and sycamores, which should not be trimmed in summer months; several more trees on East End were severely cut back at the same time as the removals and will likely die as a result.

Call to Action

Our ultimate goal is to prevent the kind of needless destruction that occurred here. Surrounding municipalities have shade tree commissions and clear laws on the books that provide for a smooth process of tree management, including opportunities for property owners to appeal decisions for tree removal and to assume responsibility for tree management themselves. Local nonprofit organizations, including Tree Pittsburgh and Upstream Pittsburgh, are ready and willing to provide expert advice and help, including sourcing grant money for tree trimming and replanting. 

Wilkinsburg Borough has put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Borough Tree Management Plan, dated August 18, 2025 with a deadline of September 2, 2025.

We are calling on Wilkinsburg Borough to halt any and all tree removal and trimming until the Tree Management Plan can be put in place.

For the Future

An expert-vetted Tree Management Plan is a crucial first step. We are also exploring what options are available for Wilkinsburg Borough ordinances which would codify the best practices for taking care of our street trees.

Reminder: 

RSVP for a Community Tree Meeting with UpstreamPgh and Tree Pittsburgh

Let’s talk about storm recovery, homeowner resources, and caring for and preserving our mature tree canopy!

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm 

Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church - 905 Mifflin Ave., Pittsburgh 15221

RSVP Here

EDIT 8/25:

Here is a ink to the Tree Management RFP from Wilkinsburg Borough

Here is a link to a copy of the spreadsheet of the tree removal & pruning plan