Alachua County’s Department of Public Works, through a “Trail-Go” grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, recently added a state-of-the-art, tree-branch trimmer to its trail maintenance fleet.
The tool was initially designed to prune citrus groves in South Florida. Its precision and power, however, have made it a popular choice for trail maintenance across the state. Featuring two 24-inch spinning saw blades mounted on a boom, the machine delivers a 7-foot cutting width and can be attached to a variety of equipment, including skid steers and mini excavators.
“Staff are very impressed with this new tool,” said Lonnie Wilkerson, lead equipment operator with one of the county’s trimming units. “The machine is just the right size to trim the trails and will significantly increase our precision and operational efficiency.”
The tool will first be deployed along the Archer Braid Trail, and then will be used on other county-maintained sidewalks and multi-use trails to manage encroaching vegetation and improve accessibility.
For more information about Alachua County’s vegetation management program, contact Public Works Horticulturist Neil Greishaw at 352-374-5245 or ngreishaw@alachuacounty.us.
