Have you noticed the new trees lining the sidewalks along Bridgeway between Princess and Anchor Streets? If you stroll along Bridgeway in downtown Sausalito, you’ll notice a refreshed and tidier streetscape.
The change is the result of the City’s recently completed Bridgeway Callery Pear Tree Removal and Replacement Project, intended to make this downtown corridor safer, more functional, orderly, visually appealing, and supportive of the long-term health of the downtown tree canopy.
The project involved removing eleven diseased Callery Pears and two Chinese pistache trees that had grown to obstruct traffic signals, along with full stump grinding to prepare the sites for new planting. In total, twelve new Chinese pistache trees were planted, adding one additional tree in a location where a tree had previously been removed and not replaced.
On the east side of Bridgeway and Princess Streets, Chinese pistache trees had already been planted and proven successful for their resilience to high winds and traffic, lower water needs, and strong response to pruning. The Chinese pistache also minimizes interference with sidewalks and underground infrastructure, making it both practical and well-suited to the downtown environment. These characteristics, along with visual cohesion with the existing tree canopy, made the Chinese pistache a logical choice for both durability and aesthetic appeal.
Planning for this project began as a collaboration between the City and Sausalito Beautiful in summer 2025. Soil amendments were prepared by City Park Supervisor Oscar Lucario, a landscape expert who oversaw the work on-site, ensuring precision in planting, soil preparation, and irrigation. Pro tip: You now have access to Oscar’s top-secret recipe for healthier trees and happier sidewalks on the City website.
The work also required careful planning and coordination around underground utilities serving downtown businesses, as well as meticulous installation of root barriers and percolation pipes to help the new trees thrive for decades.
You can read the full article about the project on the City website.
