The State College Borough Council has developed a revised tree inspection program to repair uneven sidewalks and improve the health of trees in the area.

In recent years, the community's desire for safe, flat sidewalks has come into conflict with the borough's desire to protect the root systems of local trees, leaving many residents paying for sidewalk repairs.

"Trees becoming a nuisance are a great concern to the area," said State College Borough arborist Alan Sam.

Dozens of residents and students report bothersome trees and sidewalk damages, Sam said.

Vandalism and car accidents also account for many damaged trees in the borough, he said. The borough's maintenance facility reports that about 5 percent of newly planted trees have been vandalized in the past year. Fines for damaged trees can range between $600 to $10,000 depending on severity, Sam said.

Members of the facility are hoping the new program will allow for healthier trees and satisfied State College residents. The program will reduce the amount of time between inspection of public trees from four years to three years, Sam said.

In addition, the borough plans to institute hard plastic barriers around newly planted trees, eliminating the shearing of root systems and causing less of a disturbance to residents of State College, he said.

During the nine-month screening process, the maintenance facility and the State College Tree Commission analyze trees on the basis of health, interference with overhead utilities, and residents who phone in suggestions, Sam said.

In the summer months, the borough's maintenance facility creates a tree removal list during a "drive around," during which trees are evaluated. The list is passed on to members of the Tree Commission, commission member Nick Bolgiano said. The council then meets and the public is given an opportunity to offer suggestions for tree removals, he added.

"Typically, about 100 to 120 trees are removed during the winter months following the council meeting," commission member L. J. Bright said. About 140 new trees are planted in April and May, Sam said.

"Tree safety is a concern in the State College area. If a tree is considered a hazard, it cannot be taken lightly. A tree's health is at stake," Sam said.

The erratic weather this winter has also created a harsh environment for trees to survive in, causing the borough to delay pruning schedules and tree analysis, Sam said.

To compensate for these disturbances, pruning is done around trees rather than directly to the root systems, Sam said. In addition, the facility is looking closer at the width of the tree lawn, the soil conditions, and the expected growth rate of trees to improve their health, he said. The average age of trees in the area is 40 years old, he added.

"Planting street trees creates a calming effect, and typically lower driving speeds, while increasing property values and creating an environmentally friendly area," Sam said.

"The facility's goal is a 100 percent tree survival rate," Sam said. With the utilization of the new inspection program and the help of local residents, officials believe they will meet this goal, he said.