Zelkova trees replace four maples in Thoroughbred Park

Four maple trees were replaced with zelkova trees in Thoroughbred Park in downtown Lexington on Tuesday.

The trees that were removed were in poor shape and will be used for lumber, said Stephen Grossman, president of the Triangle Foundation.

R.W. Thompson Landscaping replaced the trees, improved the irrigation system, and amended the soil.

The new trees are better suited to grow in the park and are of higher quality, said Rich Thompson, owner of R.W. Thompson Landscaping.

Grossman said he wasn't sure how much the tree replacement would cost, but he said the Triangle Foundation has spent about $50,000 in the past year for maintenance of the park.

Seventy-five imperial honey locust trees were planted at Triangle Park, about a mile away from Thoroughbred Park, in 2011. The trees were planted as apart of a $1.3 million renovation, which included the installation of an ice rink.

This story was originally published July 9, 2014 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Zelkova trees replace four maples in Thoroughbred Park."