Dear Members of the Hamilton Community,
Oak Drive will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for tree maintenance work, Dec. 27–Jan. 15. The two-way portion of Oak Drive will remain open to traffic, and the one-way entrance section will be open on nights and weekends. During this time, please plan to use the College Street or Hamilton Street entrances to access campus.
This work represents the first steps in a multi-year effort to restore both Oak Drive and Willow Path.
Oak Drive Restoration
Fifty-eight northern red oaks currently line Colgate’s Oak Drive. Many of these trees have lived more than 100 years. Several trees are in significant decline due to their age, presenting a hazard to the members of the campus community — arborists recently identified eight large oaks that are at the end of their normal life spans along the road. As part of a long-term renewal of this entrance to the campus, and in the interest of safety, we will remove these eight trees.
It is a difficult thing to see a large tree come down and more difficult still to see several removed from a campus. The only response, of course, is to plant more. Therefore, this coming spring, we will plant 61 new trees both on Oak Drive and in nearby areas:
- We will fill all the gaps in Oak Drive and extend the planting of the oak trees all the way to Broad Street with 21 new northern red oaks;
- We will line the access road that runs off Oak Drive toward Hamilton Street with new trees of various varieties; and
- We will establish a new grove of shade trees on the hillsides below Merrill House.
The updated Oak Drive will also incorporate new lighting and new sidewalks to better connect the campus to the Village of Hamilton and to create a welcoming approach to Colgate.
Willow Path Restoration
Seventy trees currently line Colgate’s Willow Path, which was originally planted at the turn of the 20th century. Between 1989 and 1991, the University replanted Willow Path using Coral Bark Willows — trees that have an expected life of 40 years.
In recent months, several of the trees have started to fail as they approach the end of their lifespan. Much as we are restoring Oak Drive, we will also begin restoration of Willow Path this coming spring. We are in contact with arborists to help guide this long-term project.
In the meantime, the University will prune and cable the canopies of the willow trees as necessary. We will remove those that either are failing or are not in keeping with the original intent of the walkway. And Colgate will work with experts to source new willow trees so that we are prepared to replant the proper variety, of an adequate size, when the time comes.
We wanted to inform you of these projects both so that you will know how to navigate campus and so that you will be aware of our intentions to steward this remarkable place. On a personal note, it is also a pleasure to write to you with news that is unrelated to COVID.
Best wishes and Happy Holidays,
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications