‘Our community’s lost quite a bit’: Brockville removes about 100 dead trees from Dana Street greenbelt
Brockville City Council received an update yesterday on the removal of about 100 dead trees from the Dana Street greenbelt and plans to rehabilitate the property as a new green space.
A report prepared Director of Operations Phil Wood was submitted to council at their general meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. The purpose of the report was to solely to provide information around the work and to enlighten councillors on plans related to this future park space.
The approximately 5.1-acre property between Dana Street and Windsor Drive was acquired by the City from the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in 2026, after the City received property standards complaints beginning in 2024 about dead and dying trees posing safety and property risks.
According to the report, City arborists, County forestry staff and contracted arborists assessed the property and determined that about 70 per cent or more of the trees were already dead, dying or overgrown scrub brush. The assessment revealed that much of the dead foliage consisted of ash trees that were affected by the pervasive emerald ash borer.
The City subsequently hired Capital Land Clearing to carry out the clearing work. During the process, City arborists identified approximately 30 healthy trees, including mature maple trees, that were to be preserved before construction began.
The majority of the clearing was completed during the week of Sept. 7 to Sept. 14, where approximately 100 dead trees and overgrown vegetation were removed.
The next phase will involve cleaning up the property, mowing grass and beginning to regrade and level the site so City staff can plant approximately 40 to 50 new trees this fall as part of its tree-planting program. At the Dana Street greenbelt, 15 new trees will be planted in the immediate future, but Councillor Cameron Wales suggests there should be more.
“I have had some feedback from residents. Obviously, it’s a fairly significant change if you’ve driven by the site with the number of trees that have been removed,” Wales shared. “The removal of the trees significantly changes the landscape. This meant a little bit of habitat loss as well, and I think that the future vision for the park of any kind, regardless of what the next council decides, will include the replanting of some trees in that area.”
Councillors supported Wales’ suggestion of referring the proposal of additional tree planting at the Dana Street greenbelt to the October General Committee meeting so they can receive further input from Director of Operations Phil Wood.
“Obviously, there are limits to what we can do here,” Councillor Deery added. “But I’m certainly in favour of the idea of trying to restore as much of that greenery as we can. Our community’s lost quite a bit.”
Mayor Wren also raised a previous request from nearby residents for an outdoor skating rink in the area. “The residents in the vicinity of that Dana Street property have been crying for an outdoor skating rink to come back to their park, which was tradition up there apparently for many, many years,” he explained.
“Now the weather hasn’t been on the City’s side for outdoor natural skating rinks the last few winters, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that that request was received,” the mayor continued. “I think staff talked about how it could be done, but it never has been actioned. And, if we’re doing things in parks on Dana Street, it might be something to remember.”
Moving ahead, City staff plan to bring a capital project to council for consideration in the 2027 budget to install new topsoil and grass seed on the property to establish the base for a passive green space. According to the report, the rehabilitated property could be considered ideal for various uses, including a “vibrant community park” with community recreation features such as play structures or a soccer pitch.
The report also identifies the potential for severing the property into building lots as one possible future use.