Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum to be rebuilt
Repairs to the Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum Metropark have begun today.
Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum to be rebuilt
The process of rebuilding the Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum MetroPark began today when crews begin to disassemble the 65-foot structure. Cox Arboretum MetroPark will remain open during the rebuilding process. The Tree Tower is expected to be rebuilt by the end of the year.
Park-goers can expect little to no impact on their visitor experience, as construction will be confined to the area surrounding the Tree Tower, which is currently closed. Special access roads have been built to accommodate trucks and equipment.
Disassembly of the Tree Tower will take one week, depending on the weather. The reassembly process will start in the fall.
“The safety and enjoyment of our park visitors is a top priority,” said Carrie Scarff, Five Rivers MetroParks chief of planning & projects. “We are working hard to repair the Tree Tower as soon as possible, and reopen this beautiful structure where so many in our community enjoy connecting with nature.”
Five Rivers MetroParks’ Board of Park Commissioners approved $390,000 for the repair of the Tree Tower in June. The Tree Tower was closed last fall pending repairs, which will continue through this fall, barring inclement weather.
During the process of preparing the Tree Tower for scheduled maintenance last fall, Five Rivers MetroParks’ Cox Arboretum staff found soft spots in the Tower’s three wooden logs, which are the central support structure for the Tower. As a precaution, the Tree Tower was immediately closed to the public and an in-depth analysis of any potential issues at the Tree Tower began.
Analysis conducted by wood and engineering experts indicated the Tree Tower’s support logs require replacement to ensure the Tower is structurally sound before it is reopened to the public. The analysis also indicated that there are no issues with any other parts of the Tree Tower.
The soft spots in the three support logs were caused by a fungus, which could significantly reduce the structural strength of the logs. While the Tree Tower is inspected daily, this fungus was difficult to detect because it originated inside the wood.
The Tree Tower opened in October 2012 and was funded through a partnership that included funds raised by The James M. Cox, Jr. Arboretum Foundation and those from Five Rivers MetroParks.
