Long timeline ahead to revitalize struggling tree areas at Flight 93 National Memorial
SHANKSVILLE, Pa. – Landscape architect James Mealey emphasized Thursday night that revitalizing Flight 93 National Memorial's struggling Memorial Groves and Allée walkway will take place on a decades-long timeline.
Approximately 2,000 native deciduous trees were planted at those sites from 2012 to 2016, a tribute to the 40 passengers and crew members who died when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
But problems soon arose. A 2020 study showed that around a quarter of the trees were in poor condition, dead or missing. About 700 dead or declining trees were removed last year.
The Resiliency Project, with support from several groups, including the Friends of Flight 93, the National Park Service and Penn State University, is now underway to develop an understanding of what went wrong and to create 40 Memorial Groves and an Allée filled with healthy trees.
'One of the things we found in our research and study of the initial development of the memorial is that one of the things that went wrong is that it was rushed – that there was this desire to get things built, get things in the ground to meet different sorts of deadlines, and to sort of just get the project done,' Mealey, of the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, said during a webinar presentation.
'We are not going to make that same mistake. We are taking our time with this revitalization. And so, in terms of seeing a fully sort of mature Allée and Memorial Groves, we're working with a 40-year timeline.
'Obviously, that won't mean that we're planting the last trees in 40 years, but that's sort of how long it takes to establish a landscape of this scale and this complexity. In terms of the actual, like, replanting, that would take place over the next decade, maybe even into two decades.'
Mealey pointed out factors that led to the issues with the original trees. Among them were poor soil quality, selection of inappropriate species that struggled with the 'harsh conditions' at the reclaimed coal strip mine near Shanksville, lack of irrigation, improper planting practices and the park's constrained maintenance capacity.
Some steps have already been taken. Soil has been tested. New topsoil has been added in certain locations.
One grove was selected as a test site where alternate species that were not included in the original planting were put into the ground, with swamp white oak and Kentucky coffeetree showing 'strong' performances that indicate they 'may be included in the future replanting of the groves,' Mealey said.
Partners in the revitalization hope to finalize cultural landscape treatment and tree operations plans this year. Other goals are to enhance staff capacity, design and install irrigation systems, and continue soil amendments. Phase One of tree replanting could begin by spring 2026.
'We are not going to give up on (the groves). … The groves are there and what they're meant to do is represent on a large scale the sacrifice that these 40 heroes made that day on 11 September 2001, which was the ultimate sacrifice,' said Kristina Melgar, acting deputy superintendent for the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania.
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