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DEVELOPING A PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE GUIDE

In the past, there was rarely adequate record-keeping to MM by providing a system for inventorying, assessing
fully understand the ways a landscape was maintained. conditions, and for providing corrective work
This creates gaps in our research findings. Today, we recommendations for all site features.
recognize that planning for ongoing maintenance and on-
site applications should be documented-both routinely Another approach to documenting maintenance and
and comprehensively. An annual work program or recording changes over time is to develop a manual or
calendar records the frequency of maintenance work on computerized graphic information system. Such a system
built or natural landscape features. It can also monitor should have the capability to include plans and
the age, health and vigor of vegetation. For example, on- photographs that would record a site's living collection of
site assessments may document the presence of weeds, plant materials. (Also see discussion of the use of
pests, dead leaves, pale color, wilting, soil compaction- photography under Preparing Existing Conditions Plans,
all of which signal particular maintenance needs. For page 5.) This may be achieved using a computer-aided
built elements, the deterioration of paving or drainage drafting program along with an integrated database
systems may be noted and the need for repair or management system.
replacement indicated before hazards develop. An To guide immediate and ongoing maintenance, a
overall maintenance program can assist in routine and systematic and flexible approach has been developed by
cyclic maintenance of the landscape and can also guide the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation.
long term treatment projects. Working with National Park Service landscape managers
and maintenance specialists, staff assemble information
To help structure a comprehensive maintenance
operation that is responsive to staff, budget, and and make recommendations for the care of individual
maintenance priorities, the National Park Service has landscape features.
developed two computer-driven programs for its own Each landscape feature is inspected in the field to
landscape resources. A Maintenance Management document existing conditions and identify field work
Program (MM) is designed to assist maintenance needed. Recommendations include maintenance
managers in their efforts to plan, organize, and direct the procedures that are sensitive to the integrity of the
park maintenance system. An Inventory and Condition landscape.
Assessment Program (lCAP) is designed to complement

Statue 0/ U berty National MOllument
FIELD INVENTORY. INSPECTION. AND WORK NEEDED
; jnl I
I jl!~ H
London PIanc: Tree 4-0-26 22· ·2- ·.2 II Larae scar from bnnch split. 5true·
rurally weak In:e, mllO'f'e twancbcs
withdealy atbase, plIHIfOf'I'e-
pacement )IS x P
LonaonPllllll:Trcc4-O-273 - .2 r -?n leancr,crowdedbylariCfadjatelll
I Ircc, ~vedeadbranehes
LondonPlaneTrcc4-O-28 3-r:-3~ -~n !::::!esdec.ay, rtmOyt lar'J't Mad )IS.
LondonPlanc:Trcc4'()'29 2,'r ,·2 r .~n :~~~'r=~::-:"d dtad
""""'"
l.»rJJonPlancTrcc4-O-3Q \ ,· 2 ·2- -211 goodcondilion. rtmOyt
walft'$prouts from trunk
LondonPlanc:Trcc~J I 2.~ ·1· ·211. faircondltiOl1.~ ltrUctural
pnmiJII.1 top or crown, mnove
three dead broken branches no •
LondonPlIneTree4-O-32 I ;-~ -2" -I n :::=~~COn(htJon. remo"eOM no.
London Plane Tree 4-0-33 3 - ~ . li- . I II. :-=~ mnon two of nVl! lower
London Plane Tree 4-0-34 I - ~ - 2 - - 2 II rmJOn walmprouts rrom trunk,
re-aJtdtadbrant:b spur
London Plane Tree 4-Q.JS 2 - 2 - 2 - - 2 n temOye WliIter5prootJ rrom trunk,
nccd5structuralprunlnctbroulb-
oot
London Plane Tree 4416 333 - 3 - -3 n in decline. dleback throughout,
sarety bazard, muon: aU dtad-
wood, plan ror ~pl.acement ",. p
t......,..mbjcMCoIIIn.AFortupo.CPtppr.
Ri'~. Figure B - Field Inventory, Inspection, and
work needed: Within areas of the landscape,
Figure A- Existing Conditions: A map of the existing trees at the Statue of Liberty each feature is assigned a field idel1tification
National Monument is used to indicate necessary preservation maintenance work number. An inspection is conducted to assess
(Drawn by Margaret Coffin, 1992) the condition, potential problems, such as
deadwood or integral decay, al1d specify work
needed. A map (above) is used to locate features
that require attention)

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