Keene Officials Outline Maple Avenue Tree Harvest, Reforestation Plans on WKBK

Hennessey said the project, led by the Keene Parks and Recreation Department in the Monadnock Region, is being driven by the spread of red pine scale, an invasive insect that kills red pine trees by feeding on their sap. The pest was first identified locally in Wheelock Park in 2025 and later confirmed in Dinsmoor Woods.

The harvest will cover approximately 9.4 acres along both sides of Maple Avenue and will include a combination of clear-cutting and selective harvesting. Work is scheduled to begin April 27, following equipment staging the weekend prior, and is expected to last about five to nine days.

City officials say the timing is critical. By removing the trees while they are still alive, the timber retains market value, allowing the wood to be sold for uses such as utility poles, lumber, and biomass fuel. That revenue is expected to offset the cost of the project, resulting in little to no direct expense to the city while also reducing future safety hazards from falling or decaying trees.

Hennessey acknowledged concerns from residents about the visual impact along Maple Avenue, a scenic corridor long valued by the community. She emphasized that while the short-term change will be dramatic, the long-term goal is to create a healthier, more diverse forest ecosystem. The land is protected under conservation easements held by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and officials stressed there are no plans for development on the site.

Reforestation will be a key focus following the harvest. Hennessey said the city plans to monitor natural regeneration through the summer of 2026 before implementing a more formal planting strategy between fall 2026 and spring 2027. That effort will prioritize native species and the removal of invasive plants, with expected regrowth including hardwoods such as oak and maple.

The city has also added a forest health and sustainability project to its Capital Improvement Program, which will provide funding for replanting, invasive species management, and ongoing forest care starting July 1. Officials are also exploring grant opportunities to help support those efforts.

Public engagement remains a central part of the project. Hennessey encouraged residents to visit the city’s website, where detailed information is available, including infestation maps, harvest plans, presentations, and notices to abutters. The city is also working to ensure those materials are easy to access and kept up to date.

In addition, a Walk-and-Talk event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at 3 p.m. at the Jonathan Daniels School parking lot, where residents can tour the site with forestry experts and city staff, ask questions, and learn more about the project.

Officials say coordination is underway with the school district, emergency services, and contractors to manage traffic, detours, and safety during the operation, which will include temporary road closures, designated detour routes, and controlled access for emergency vehicles.

Hennessey said the city understands the project will bring short-term disruption, including noise, road impacts, and a changed landscape, but emphasized that proactive management now will help avoid greater costs and risks in the future while supporting long-term forest health.