UKIAH, CA., 10/31/25 – Ukiah residents have organized a petition against an improvement project that could remove Chinese pistache trees in the city that turn vibrant shades of red and orange during the autumn season.
The petition, which was submitted on Change.org by local resident Dennis O’Brien, states that the project could remove several trees on School Street, which runs right through the heart of downtown Ukiah.
The summary of the petition reads, “While improvement projects are crucial for modernizing infrastructure and enhancing safety, they should not come at the cost of our natural heritage.”
Shannon Riley, deputy city manager for the city of Ukiah, said in an email that while the city is planning to preserve most of the trees on School Street, there have been observations that some trees, especially in the downtown area, have damaged sidewalks and impacted the underground water and sewer systems that serve local businesses.
Riley explained that the city of Ukiah has received a planning grant from CalTrans to help study the School Street area and improve its environment. This grant is called the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant.
“The intention is to find a way to preserve all the things we love about School Street, but to enhance them and protect them for the future. There are no preconceived notions here,” Riley said in a statement.
Riley also said that there have been community workshops with stakeholders and walking tours with engineers where the city of Ukiah has received feedback on what improvements could be made to the downtown area that preserves the atmosphere while enhancing infrastructure.
“We’ve received input regarding parking and circulation, bike racks, lighting, and more,” Riley added. “It’s true that some of the alternatives require removal of the existing trees, but it definitely doesn’t mean that the street would be left naked.
“For example, the same type of trees could be replanted, maybe in phases, with an end result of flat, wide sidewalks and buildings and utilities that aren’t actively being destroyed, with the same beautiful fall colors and shade canopy,” she said. “We could make School Street even more beautiful and better for events and downtown strolls.”
According to the city of Ukiah’s website, the research that could lead to an improvement project in downtown Ukiah is a multimodal transportation study that will analyze how to enhance the vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle pathways on School Street between Clay and Henry streets.
The city’s website states that the School Street Multimodal Transportation Corridor Study will “be crucial in further advancing safe, sustainable transportation options to access local destinations, jobs, shops, and community resources.”
The petition against the city’s plan asks that the city of Ukiah revise its study to ensure there are no trees removed during the city’s potential improvement project.
The petition continues, “I urge the City Council of Ukiah and relevant agencies to reconsider their plans and explore approaches that allow for development while preserving these irreplaceable assets. Implementing creative and thoughtful design strategies can achieve this balance, ensuring both progress and environmental stewardship.”
The petition had 2,019 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.
Stop cutting our amazing beautiful trees what’s wrong with you people? Tree’s add charm and beauty to our city’s.🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑
I enjoy the trees and they add a charm to the downtown core area. I also would like to see School st. get upgraded utilities and upgraded sidewalks and ambiance. Any trees that require removal should be replanted with like for like trees.
No!! City of Ukiah, you should be ashamed for even considering removing those trees. They are the ONLY charm left in Ukiah. I grew up in Ukiah and remember them when I was a kid and we would bicycle downtown on Saturdays then go to the Maple Cafe for a cherry coke or vanilla coke. I live on the coast and always go downtown Ukiah when I’m there. I was there last week and soaked up the beauty of the these trees on School Street. Taking money from Cal Trans is like mafia. They just removed a bridge here by Mendo and they are soon to take out the last remaining wooden bridge in CA!!
There are foresters in my family who manage plots in Golden Gate Park for the City/County of San Francisco. They know what they’re talking about. When I showed them School Street they immediately pointed out that the tree wells need to be significantly enlarged so the roots won’t lift up the cement. This is kind of Tree 101. Yet when I walk around town, I see mistakes the City of Ukiah is doing over and over again. Using barrier cloth incorrectly, pouring concrete right up to the base of a tree, planting species not suited for the location, etc. Why isn’t the City using the free resource of the Mendocino College Ag Dept to help advise them? The City made a huge mistake in planting giant sycamores, (aka London Plane Trees), in those cement planters on State Street. The sycamores will either break them, or die as they become root bound. And they are extremely messy trees. A better choice would have been crepe mrytles, (that love our climate), or dogwoods – smaller trees more suited to containers.
Trees cool down city streets, clean the air and provide habitat for many creatures. They increase livability, and property values. It’s extremely short-sighted not to save existing trees that the City has spent years and thousands of dollars to maintain. The pistache trees on School Street have decades of life yet. They live to 100-150 years, and are only about 60 years old. Please do not remove them. And get some better tree advice!