Three Tonawandas: town, village, and city
The Town of Tonawanda is the large suburb north of Buffalo. It runs from the Niagara River on the west to Niagara Falls Boulevard and the Amherst line on the east. Neighborhoods include Sheridan Park and Sheridan Parkside on the west side, Old Town near the river, Brighton on the east edge, Green Acres and Parkview in the northeast, and Kenilworth and Lincoln Park in the southeast. Most of the town was built up during the postwar boom: population roughly quadrupled between 1930 and 1960.
The Village of Kenmore sits entirely within the town, at its south end against the Buffalo line. Together they are often called Ken-Ton. Kenmore covers only about 1.4 square miles and is one of the most densely populated incorporated places in the country, with more than 15,000 residents.
The City of Tonawanda is a separate city to the north, along the Erie Canal and Tonawanda Creek, across from North Tonawanda. It was part of the town until it incorporated as a city in 1904.
What dense lots mean for a stump job
Kenmore and the older parts of the town have tighter lots than the outer suburbs. That changes the job in a few ways:
- Access is the main constraint. The space between houses can be narrow. Measure the tightest point on the way to the backyard, including gates and gaps by the garage, and share it with providers.
- Close to structures. A stump near a foundation, fence, or neighbor's garage needs careful grinding. Ask how the operator will protect siding and windows from thrown chips.
- Shared roots. On close lots, roots from the old tree may run into a neighbor's yard, and a neighbor's living tree may have roots near yours. See surface root grinding before you grind roots near a tree you or a neighbor want to keep.
- Private lines. UDig NY doesn't mark private lines. On older lots, that may include a feed to a detached garage.
Who handles street tree stumps
This differs by municipality, so check before you pay anyone.
Town of Tonawanda
The town's Forestry section, part of the Highway Department, says it plants and maintains about 31,000 trees in the public rights of way. It prunes trees and removes dead trees and those that endanger public health or property. Residents request tree work through the Highway Department, and a supervisor visits to look at the tree. The page does not describe stump grinding specifically, so ask about a tree lawn stump directly.
Village of Kenmore
Kenmore lays out responsibility by location. Trees in your front or back yard, up to the sidewalk, are the property owner's. The strip between the curb and sidewalk is the municipal right-of-way. On village roads, the Department of Public Works handles tree trimming and removal. Trees on county roads fall to Erie County Highway, and on state roads to NYS DOT.
City of Tonawanda
The city has its own government and its own departments. This guide could not confirm how the city handles street tree stumps, so contact the city before working on a tree lawn stump.
The 2006 storm and its legacy
The October 2006 lake-effect storm hit the Tonawandas hard. The National Weather Service recorded 12 to 18 inches of heavy wet snow on trees still in full leaf. Town Supervisor Joseph Emminger later said close to 27,000 of the town's 31,000 right-of-way trees were damaged, and about 2,000 could not be saved. The town now runs a community tree nursery at its Highway Department to grow replacement trees.
Before you hire in Tonawanda
How the job works: stump grinding. What it costs: stump grinding cost. What comes after: after stump grinding.
Common questions
What is the difference between the Town and City of Tonawanda?
They are separate municipalities. The City of Tonawanda began as a village within the town and incorporated as a city in 1904. It sits at the north edge of Erie County along the Erie Canal and Tonawanda Creek. The Town of Tonawanda lies south of it and includes the Village of Kenmore.
Who handles a tree lawn stump in Kenmore?
The Village of Kenmore says trees between the curb and sidewalk are in the municipal right-of-way, and that trees on village roads fall to its Department of Public Works, which does tree trimming and removal. Trees on county or state roads fall to Erie County or NYS DOT. Check with the village before hiring anyone.
Does the Town of Tonawanda remove dead street trees?
The town's Forestry page, under the Highway Department, says it plants and maintains about 31,000 trees in the public rights of way, and removes dead trees and trees that endanger public health or property. It doesn't describe stump grinding specifically, so ask the Highway Department about a right-of-way stump.