Harrisonburg Urban Wood Utilization Program 

Program Mission

The City of Harrisonburg has a urban wood utilization program, in partnership with interested agencies and organizations, to recover trees at the end of their useful life so that wood can be reused in creative ways and kept out of the landfill.

Since 2018, Harrisonburg has been adjusting to the effects the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) pest on ash trees in Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg removed a significant amount of ash in Harrisonburg and treated some ash through the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VADOF) Cost Share Program. Through the removal of these ash trees, a program was created to upcycle and give new life to trees that are at the end of their biological life in Harrisonburg. The Harrisonburg Urban Wood Utilization Program was created in 2018.

Program History

In 2017, the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle made its way to Harrisonburg. The EAB was first detected in Michigan in 2002. Since then they have killed hundreds of millions of ash trees as they migrated toward the East coast. The EAB beetle feeds on the inner bark of the tree inhibiting the tree from getting the water and nutrients it needs to survive. 1500 ash trees have been removed from Harrisonburg's public spaces. Initially, the City treated 36 ash trees in City parks through the VADOF Cost Share program to lesson the impact of tree canopy loss due to the EAB. However, there is a high cost to treating ash and it's impossible to treat every ash tree in Harrisonburg. Because treatment is annual, the City treats select ash that are more environmentally impactful and provide ecological benefits.  

What happens to the Ash trees after they are taken down?

We have a program to upcycle the felled trees.  Public Works partners with those interested to recover wood products from fallen or removed trees, on City-owned land, so that wood can be reused in creative and useful ways, keeping it from going into landfills. These efforts are in collaboration with the Virginia Urban Wood Group and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Harrisonburg Public Works has been proactive in the removal of the dead or hazardous dying trees and making the wood available to the public for purchase through the City’s Public Surplus Website.  Even though the trees may be on the brink of extinction, we are working to keep the wood alive while also boosting the local economy.

Urban Wood Utilization Program Collaborations

The City of Harrisonburg and local woodcrafters have made great use of ash wood (among other tree species) that has been sourced from dwindling City trees (trees at the end of their biological life). Here are some success stories:

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Conference Room Table -2018

 

HDR Article: Local Ash Tree Finds New Home in HDR Office 

WHSV Story: Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance gives ash trees new life

Project Collaborators: Willow Run Custom Lumber, Knoched VA, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance 

Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation Conference Room Table - 2019

Video: Out of the Ashes 

Project Collaborators: Gray Fox Design Works, Willow Run Custom Lumber, Virginia Department of Forestry 

Harrisonburg Fire Department Table and Master Firefighter Retirement Gift - 2

Collaborators: Willow Run Custom Lumber, Harrisonburg Fire Department 

Purcell Park Bioreactor - 2021

The bioreactor was one of first installed and utilized in an urban setting on the east coast. It won Governors Environmental Excellence Gold Award in 2021. The Bioreactor

 helps the City of Harrisonburg improve water quality and meet its nutrient reduction goals, ultimately reducing the amount of nutrients going to the Chesapeake Bay. 

Many ash trees were removed in Harrisonburg due to the effects of the Emerald Ash Borer. The City began an Urban Wood Utilization program that repurposes and upcycles wood materials from the ash trees and trees that are at the end of their biological life. Smaller branches from these trees are chipped into wood chips. The wood chips are utilized to fill the bioreactor and the wood chips help to provide a habitat for bacteria to denitrify through anaerobic digestion. Because the wood chips are utilized in the bioreactor, it serves as another method to make use of the tree and keep wood materials out of the landfill. Generally, the bioreactor recycles materials from the environment so that they may benefit the environment once again. 170 tons of ash tree waste was diverted from the landfill for this project. The utilization of the wood chips also eliminates the need to cut new material to utilize for the project. 

WHSV Story: Harrisonburg Public Works honored with Environmental Excellence award

DNR Article: City Public Works Wins Governor's Gold Environmental Award

Urban Forestry & Urban Wood Program Governor's Award - 2022

WHSV Story: Harrisonburg Public Works’ Urban Wood Program wins Governor’s award

Augusta Free Press: Harrisonburg Public Works honored for Urban Forestry & Wood program

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Storywalk Project - 2023

Collaborators: JMU Architectural Design & Nick Brinen, Edith J. Carrier Arboretum 

WHSV Article: JMU Architectural Design students create StoryWalk in Arboretum 

Press Release: Harrisonburg Urban Wood used to add interactive element to Arboretum 

Keister Elementary and VADOF - Outdoor Learning Spaces - VADOF Gold Leaf Award 2024

Collaborators: Virginia Department of Forestry, Brooke Imber, JMU Industrial Design

Urban Wood features include wood slab table tops, jumping and sitting stumps, a designed dragon playground feature, hobbit door in the enchanted forest and Eagle Scout circle timber benches in the mindfullness meadow, and more!

WHSV Story: 

DNR Article:

The Breeze Article: Local elementary school’s ‘mindfulness meadow’ sprouts student engagement

     

Public Works Environmental and Sustainability Division Conference Table

Collaborators: Knoched VA, Heritage Oaks Golf Course Staff

   

Public Works Downtown Harrisonburg Urban Wood Projects

Urban Wood Planters - Collaborators: Knoched VA

Liberty Park Kiosk - Collaborators: Knoched VA

Lending Library - Collaborators: Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance

Art Easel - Collaborators: Julia Stauffer

     

 

Program Acknowledgements

In 2021 the Harrisonburg Urban Wood Utilization Program under the management of Harrisonburg Public Works received the Governors Environmental Excellence Gold Award. 

Urban Wood Utilization Workshops

Tree Cookie Workshop 

Hosted by Harrisonburg Public Works featuring locally sourced tree cookies.

Charcuterie Board Workshop

Annual event where the community may register to enjoy local craft beer, appetizers, and friends, and transform a slab of local, reclaimed wood into a customized cheese and charcuterie serving platter.

After choosing a slab of Ash or Walnut wood, participants have the option to either trace the shape of their board, using one of the 4 templates provided, or freehand their own shape. Staff from the Harrisonburg Urban Wood Program and Rocktown Urban Wood will cut out the boards, while workshop participants head into the Taproom to enjoy a beverage and a presentation on the City of Harrisonburg's Urban Wood Program. Participants learn the background of the locally sourced wood they’ll be giving a new life to and the purpose and importance of Virginia urban wood programs.

The workshop continues outside where participants will sand their freshly cut boards. The boards can be further customized with handles, leather, and wood burning stamps and pens. While treating finished boards with mineral oil, participants are invited to sample a spread of charcuterie meats, cheeses, and fruits provided by JMU Dining. A JMU Dining chef closes out the workshop with a presentation on how to build the ultimate charcuterie and cheese board at home.

Event Collaborators: 

     

Bird House Workshop

Transform local, reclaimed wood into a customized bluebird house at Sage Bird Ciderworks.

Event Collaborators: Sage Bird Ciderworks, Rocktown Urban Wood

  

Pollinator Hotel Workshop

Building a pollinator hotel is a great way to attract solitary bees and other pollinators to your garden. Join Harrisonburg Public Works and Parks and Recreation in building a pollinator hotel for your yard. First come, first serve with one kit given per family. Explore pollinators in Purcell Park with City staff after making a Pollinator Hotel.

Collaborators: Rocktown Urban Wood, Harrisonburg Public Works, Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation

     

Program Resources 

Featured Articles and Media Coverage 

Related Pages
Public Works