Bay Village Tree Forum to Address Canopy Loss

Tim Doyle of the Bay Village Tree Conservancy welcomes all to the May 6 community forum to learn more about their work to maintain and protect Bay’s tree canopy.

The Bay Village Tree Conservancy, a local nonprofit, will host a community forum on May 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bay Village Police Department Community Room. The event is part of a quarterly series focused on educating residents about the benefits of trees, proper tree care, and the growing impact of canopy loss in the city.

The group emphasizes that while tree removal on private property is a personal choice, the ongoing loss of tree canopy affects the entire community—contributing to increased flooding, noise pollution, and the decline of local beauty and wildlife habitat. With mature trees taking decades to grow, the conservancy hopes to raise awareness about their long-term value.

Topics for this session will include the history of Bay’s urban canopy, preservation efforts, and the ecological importance of trees to local wildlife and the environment.

Guest speakers include Dave Patzwahl of the Bay Village Tree Commission, who will discuss the evolution of Bay’s tree canopy over the past 20 years and efforts to protect and restore it, and Tim Jasinski from the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, who will highlight the canopy’s importance to local wildlife and environmental health.

The Conservancy planted 18 shade trees last year, aims for 25 this year and 50 next year.

Each presentation will last about 20 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.