Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis are partnering to remove and replace the allée of trees along Grand Drive in Forest Park that have been affected by emerald ash borers.

The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle destroying millions of ash trees in North America. Its impact includes the City of St. Louis, which once had over 15,000 ash trees — about 17% of its canopy across the City. The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry has a multi-year plan that calls for many of the endangered trees to be removed and replaced by other trees. The removal of ash trees is necessary to control the spread of the emerald ash borer and reduce the risk posed by brittle, infested trees.

As part of the citywide plan, the Forestry Division and Forest Park Forever are coordinating on the removal of affected trees within Forest Park. The most prominent concentration of ash trees in Forest Park is the allée lining Grand Drive between Washington Drive (near Dwight Davis Tennis Center) and Cricket Drive, where 41 ash trees remain in October 2024.

This fall, the Forestry Division will remove these trees and Forest Park Forever will plant replacements. Following the Forest Park Master Plan and honoring the original design intent for this location, the new trees will recreate the allée using Wildfire Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) trees.

Wildfire Tupelo is a large shade tree, native to the region and resistant to leafspot. The species’ new leaves emerge a deep red and turn dark green as they mature. Autumn foliage varies from yellow-orange to crimson.

Grand Drive Timeline

The following dates outline the intended days for this work but are subject to change due to weather and other factors:

• Monday, Oct. 28: No Parking signs will be posted along Grand Drive to ensure parked cars do not impede planned work.

• Oct. 29-Nov. 1: Closures of Grand Drive near the Visitor Center and Dwight Davis Tennis Center will begin in stages as Forestry Division staff remove and grind the stumps of the ash trees.

• Week of Nov. 4: Forest Park Forever team members will begin planting replacement trees to recreate the Allee. Grand Drive traffic will be limited to one way during this work.

Changes to this timeline and other updates will be posted on this page about ash tree removal.

As with the allée that was planted between the Visitor Center and Pagoda Circle to replace invasive pear trees in 2023, Forest Park Forever’s arbor team will plant the new trees and manage their care as they become established.

Our coordinated approach with our partners in the Forestry Division will:

• Remove infested and susceptible trees in Forest Park, in accordance with the City’s Ash Borer Plan

• Reduce the risk of tree failure in high-traffic areas

• Honor the original design intent for this location, replacing failing ash trees with a resilient species that provides vibrant fall foliage 

Emerald Ash Borer and Mitigation Resources

• City of St. Louis Emerald Ash Borer Plan and resources

• Emerald ash borer in Missouri (University of Missouri)

• About the emerald ash borer (U.S. Department of Agriculture): an invasive wood-boring beetle that lays its eggs in the bark crevices of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into the tree where they feed. As of June 2024, infestations have been detected in 36 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Learn more about the signs of infestation.

Want to Help Remove Invasive Plant Species in Forest Park?

While removing diseased trees is the responsibility of highly trained professionals, there are ways you can help us mitigate the impact of invasive species in Forest Park.

Removing invasive species is part of our partnership’s on-going efforts to maintain the health of Forest Park and its green spaces. These efforts include year-round work by staff as well as volunteer opportunities, including Forest Park Forever’s annual Invasive Removal and Forest Restoration Day. Want to volunteer? You can help on that day, or at any other time of year by registering with us as a volunteer.