Landscaped medians are a significant component of streetscape beautification. The medians act as a screen, dampen noise, and provide a myriad of ecosystem services while also providing a division between opposing traffic flows.
The majority of the City's improved median islands were installed in the sixties. The irrigation systems of a large percentage of these islands were comprised of materials that have deteriorated. Many of the irrigation systems on medians have completely failed or in a state that requires constant repair. The result of this is landscaping that often does not receive the irrigation needs of the trees and plant material. UFD is aware of these problems and manages the problem to the best of its ability within the boundaries of the funding it receives for this purpose.
The maintenance requirements of specific islands are dependent upon the materials that exist in an island. Islands with turf require maintenance on a two to three week cycle. Islands with only shrubs and trees may require maintenance only a few times a year. UFD's maintenance responsibility does not include the removal of trash and debris although this is performed in conjunction with the regularly scheduled maintenance of the plant material.
UFD's goal is to maintain all of the City's median islands in a well-kept and attractive condition. The Division continues to explore avenues to minimize maintenance schedules and keep the islands supplied with proper irrigation amounts. The Division is of the opinion that islands are a vital part of the urban forest and deserving of more resource allocation and will continue to lobby toward this end.
