Don’t Believe the Rumors You Have Heard About the CSU Oval
No! They are not cutting down all of the trees on the historic Colorado State University Oval. It's a rumor that keeps resurfacing that is absolutely not true.
The CSU Oval Rumor
The rumor is that all the trees in the Oval are being taken out because of the Emerald Ash Borer. This couldn't be further from the truth.
- The Emerald Ash Borer kills ash trees, not Elm trees.
- The trees in the Oval are mostly American Elm
- CSU has never had plans for any large scale removal of trees and has no plans for such a removal in the future.
CSU's Official Response to the Oval Rumor
Here’s the official statement from Colorado State University's landscape architect Fred Haberecht:
Trees are occasionally removed from the Oval because of disease or safety reasons, and new trees are planted. There are over 100 trees in the direct Oval area, most are American Elm, some are 135 years old. One tree will be removed this fall that has succumbed to disease. There are no plans for any large scale removals. The only removals are on a case by case basis, and those trees are replaced.
There is even a CSU Oval Preservation Fund, whose purpose is to preserve the Oval as the historical heart of the Colorado State University Campus. Don't worry, they are not cutting down all of the trees on the Oval.