REMOVE AND REPLANT. Pictured is a portion of the work the City has done so far in removing invasive plants and trees, which will be replaced by native, healthy trees.

The City of Eau Claire is steadily moving along in its redevelopment efforts of the Cannery District, beginning its landscaping and restoration work on Tuesday, May 2.

Invasive plants and trees including Ash Trees, Black Locust, and Buckthorn along the Chippewa River Trail will be removed and replaced with more than 100 new trees as well as prairie grasses and pollinator plants.

“Black Locust and Buckthorn … take over the habitat of the natural plants, flowers, pollinators, and prairie grass that we want to establish,” Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Director, Steve Plaza explained. “They also compete with the healthy trees we want down there; (Removing those trees) means less competition for light and food.”

Plaza said 11 varieties of native trees will be planted along the trail and in the Cannery District Park. Once established, the newly placed greenery will provide shelter and food for wildlife including birds, bees, and butterflies.

Ultimately, the City plans for the Cannery District to be a maker’s district featuring new and future mixed-use developments, improved streets, and a collection of parks. This landscaping and restoration work is just the beginning of the park's development.

Sketch from the Cannery District redesign plan.

The Chippewa River Trail will be affected by such efforts during the average work day, though crews will have the trail cleared of debris by each evening. 

"(Use of the trail) Will be hit or miss," Plaza said. "(People) can walk around the trail on the grass too if possible, but toward the end of the night, trails should be open." 

The City of Eau Claire has been a Tree City USA community for more than 40 years, achieving the status thanks to its meeting of the four core Tree City standards: maintaining a tree department; having a community tree ordinance; spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry; celebrating Arbor Day.

Learn more about the Cannery District and its redevelopment plan on the City of Eau Claire website. Keep up with the Eau Claire Parks, Rec & Forestry Department on Facebook.