Amendments Made to Plans for Center of Roundabout

WARREN, Pa. – Talks continued for plans for the center of the roundabout in downtown Warren during Tuesday’s Parks, Recreation and Landscape Commission, with a few changes in the works.

Initially, it was decided that a hemlock tree would go in the middle, and while a hemlock tree is still part of the plan, there are a few amendments.

“The orientation of the utilities within the circle makes it impossible to plant a tree in the dead center,” Department of Public Works Director Joe Reinke said.

Instead, the plan will now include multiple trees in order to “keep the symmetry.”

“One could be a hemlock, and, just off the top of my head, a couple of clump river birch’s, spaced out and the hemlock on the other side in a perfect triangle,” Reinke said. “Basically, we would fabric and get big river rock in there around most of the area. Maintenance would be super easy and it would look very natural. We already have many in town along the river walk and they wouldn’t outgrow their spot. There is a lot of growing space.”

The plan is also for accent lighting to be a part of the project.

“They (the trees) would complement each other well,” DCNR District Forester Cecile Stetler said.