The city of Manitou Springs is excited to launch a systematic tree pruning program aimed at enhancing safety and improving aesthetics in our streetscapes. The primary focus is to provide a minimum of 14 feet of vertical clearance over the roads and 8 feet over the sidewalks to accommodate large trucks, ensure walking and ADA accessibility, and enhance overall visibility along our city’s thoroughfares.
The program will target various issues, including impeding visual clearance around curves, pruning vegetation away from signs and lights and tackling other vegetation-related impediments that affect safety and accessibility. Throughout the program, we want to emphasize that pruning does not necessarily entail tree removal, except in cases where a tree’s structure or location poses a significant threat.
The goal is to promote healthy growth while achieving the targeted clearances. Consequently, some trees may appear asymmetrical during the pruning process. Nonetheless, the city will prioritize aesthetics while pursuing the clearance objectives.
The pruning program is starting with higher-traffic corridors, and the planned order of operations includes:
- Manitou Avenue;
- School routes;
- El Paso Boulevard;
- Crystal Park Road and Crystal Hills Boulevard;
- Manitou Avenue/Serpentine west of the Ruxton Roundabout;
- Secondary streets; and
- Tertiary/other streets.
The program is scheduled to be in effect until December 2023, with work times set from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. In some areas, traffic may be delayed briefly due to the need for flaggers during pruning operations. The city will work diligently to communicate any necessary parking restrictions in areas undergoing pruning.