Residents in Mason will notice some activity in downtown Mason as the city prepares for the next phase of the downtown revitalization

Construction of major renovations downtown is expected to begin in early spring. To prepare for the construction season, about two dozen trees in the 4-block revitalization area in downtown Mason will be removed in mid January, weather permitting.

The city and the steering committee of the Downtown Mason Association worked together to schedule the tree removal around holiday activities and federal guidelines. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, a brank of the Department of the Interior, regulates that tree removal associated with federally funded projects must occur between September 16 and April 14 due to the migration patterns of the endangered Indiana bat. Mason's $5 million downtown project will receive about $400,000 in federal funding.

The trees, all Bradford Pears, were planted when the city completed its last revitalization project in 1981. "Bradford pears reach the end of their life span at around 25 years," said Kevin Jones of Mason's Tree Committee. He said they become increasingly susceptible to weak limbs and disease, and breaking limbs create safety concerns for both people and property. For over ten years the species has been on the list of "unacceptable" trees for street tree use in the city's Landscaping and Street Tree Ordinance.

Scheduling the work now, when there are no leaves on the trees, will allow a clear view of the power and phone lines running through the trees. This will provide greater safety for the removal crews and reduce the possibility of damage to the lines. In addition, crews can take advantage of the unseasonably mild weather to remove the trees to make way for the Phase 3 construction of buries utilities, new sidewalks, and on-street parking.

Phase 4 of the revitalization includes landscaping and is scheduled for later this year. About three dozen new trees will be planted and planter boxes with vegetation and flowers will be interspersed with the trees to complete the new look for downtown Mason.

"Once the trees are gone, we'll be ready for the construction phase," said Mayor Char Pelfrey. "Even though you won't see more activity for a few months yet, this will be the first highly visible sign that the exciting revitalization of downtown is really taking place," she said.