A hemlock tree will be the primary feature in the center of the roundabout at Market St. and Pennsylvania Ave.

The city’s Parks, Recreation and Landscape Commission made the decision during Tuesday’s meetings.

With construction in the final phase, Department of Public Works Director Joe Reinke said that the decision needed to be made soon.

He said that there would be a three-foot high retaining wall around the center of the circle as well as electric and water access installed in the center.

PennDOT has previously said that whatever goes in the middle cannot be something that would be a visual distraction for motorists.

That would rule out things like fountains and statues.

There had been discussion about just some green ground cover-type plants but Reinke said most motorists wouldn’t see that given the height of the retaining wall.

Options presented to the committee on Tuesday included a tree, boulder and shrubbery.

A hemlock tree — the state tree — quickly took the lead during the discussion.

Reinke said it could be planted with grass around it or river rock around the edge of the circle and then mulch adjacent to the tree.

He said the city could purchase a larger tree — he called it “instant gratification” that could be planted as soon as this fall. It could also then be lit for Christmas.

Reinke stressed whatever is in the middle won’t be hazardous to motorists because anyone that strikes the center would hit the retaining wall.

The commission approved the selection of hemlock and left the rest of the design to Reinke.

He said his goal would be something both “as pretty and low maintenance as I can get it.”