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Decatur lost 48 trees in June 11 storm, including champion tree, Visitors Center flooded

Crime and public safety Decatur slideshow

Decatur lost 48 trees in June 11 storm, including champion tree, Visitors Center flooded

A photo of the tree before the storm knocked it over. Obtained via: http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/ChampionTrees/View.cfm?ID=1869
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Chris Billingsley took this photo of crews cleaning up what is left of a historic tree felled during a June 11 storm.

The storm that rolled through Decatur on June 11 took a bite out of the city’s tree canopy and flooded the city’s Visitor Center, which is closed indefinitely for repairs.

City Arborist Kay Evanovich told Decaturish that the city lost 48 trees, including a champion horse chestnut at the Decatur Recreation Center.

Evanovich said, “I had to contact Trees Atlanta to remove the tree from the champion tree list.”

A photo of the tree before the storm knocked it over. Obtained via: http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/ChampionTrees/View.cfm?ID=1869

 

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Chris Billingsley, a local history buff, notes that the tree was planted by Col. George Washington Scott. He was Confederate officer who founded Agnes Scott Institute which later became Agnes Scott College, according to Decatur Metro. Under the state’s Champion Tree Program, a champion tree is defined as the largest known tree of a particular species.

“The Scott estate on Sycamore Drive was bought by the city of Decatur in the 1950’s and is the home of the recreation center and Scott Park,” Billingsley said.

Evanovich said the city lost trees on Glenn Circle, East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Mountain View Street, Glen Street, Sycamore Street, North Candler Road, South Columbia Drive, Weeks Street, New Street, Sams Street, Talley Street, Shadowmoor Drive, Kirk Road, Avery Street, Third Avenue, Olympic Place, Conway Road and “two small trees at the cemetery.” Numerous other trees have broken branches.

Assistant City Manager Andrea Arnold said during the June 18 City Commission meeting that the Visitors Center had “a lot of water damage” and is closed for now. The center can still be reached via phone and email.

“There’s a lot to be done in terms of the structural repair,” she said.

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