The City of Reno Urban Forestry Division is starting a large tree maintenance project at Virginia Lake Park starting February 25. The work includes the pruning of 51 trees and the removal of 19 trees, most of which are large Siberian elms. The 19 trees being removed are in very poor condition and will not have the vitality to recover from the effects of heavy pruning. “Siberian elms have an average life expectancy of about 100 years,” said Matt Basile, City of Reno Urban Forester. “These trees were likely planted in the 1930s, and their health is now in serious decline. In order to ensure the safety of park users, many of these trees need to be removed.” The tree maintenance and removal project will impact pedestrian traffic at the park. Two perimeter walking trails will be diverted around the project working zones. Detours will also include some sidewalks, creating a non-continuous loop around the lake. There may be detours related to vehicle traffic. Pedestrian and traffic impacts will only be implemented during business hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. #reno