Gordon State College Takes Proactive Approach to Campus Tree Health, Safety
By Karolina Philmon, GSC marketing manager
The Gordon State College campus may look a little different in the coming weeks, but its familiar grounds remain full of Highlanders moving forward. With the fall semester underway, students are filling classrooms, walkways and gathering spaces as they make decisions that will shape their futures. At the same time, GSC is making thoughtful decisions about the future of its campus landscape.
GSC will remove two oak trees located in front of Lambdin Hall facing College Drive as part of ongoing efforts to maintain a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for students, employees, visitors and the surrounding community.
The work follows a professional evaluation of trees and landscaping across campus. The assessment identified significant health and structural concerns, including fungal rot, wood decay, canopy dieback, codominant stem issues and root damage to surrounding sidewalks.
The two oak trees will be replaced with two new ginkgo trees as part of GSC’s continued commitment to maintaining the beauty and character of the Barnesville campus. The ginkgo trees will be planted elsewhere on campus because the current location near Lambdin Hall does not provide sufficient sunlight for the new trees to thrive. A new location is still being determined.
“Decisions to remove established trees are made carefully and only when conditions warrant action,” said Dr. Russell Crutchfield, GSC president. “Our responsibility is to protect the safety of our campus community while thoughtfully caring for the landscape that generations of Highlanders value.”
GSC began reviewing trees and landscaping throughout campus earlier this year, identifying trees for additional evaluation based on age, condition and overall health. A professional arborist was engaged to recommend the next appropriate steps. The campus community was notified of the assessment in August.
Tree removal represents one component of GSC’s broader approach to campus landscape management, which may also include pruning, treatment and continued monitoring based on individual conditions and professional recommendations. The addition of two new ginkgo trees reflects the College’s commitment to thoughtfully preserving the beauty and character of its historic Barnesville campus.
