Letter to the Editor: Nelson: Do the trees have to go?

This could be classified as to late or useless? I don’t live in the Core Area that lost trees for the sake of a sidewalk. Much was ‘discussed’ about the necessity of said sidewalks. I didn’t pay too much attention, I didn’t live on one of those streets. I am sorry, now I’ve seen how bare the streets look now without their trees and new ones have been planted but they will take time to grow, like 15-20 years. The reason I am writing is that recently I’ve had the opportunity to help care for my great-grandson after school since he started kindergarten! I meet his bus and we spend a couple of hours together until Mom gets off work. I pick up on the street in the Core Area that is still targeted to be redone, which will include sidewalks, meaning some trees will come down, I assume? There are some big ones on that block!

As I am sitting there waiting for the bus to bring him today, I am looking at the magnificent old threes that are in the neighborhood that are close to the street that the homeowners are going to lose. It is really sad … and I wish now I had been more supportive (probably to no avail) to the Core Area that suffered the first of the indignities of losing their beautiful trees to a sidewalk! When I am with my great-grandson for two hours or so … I don’t see a lot of people walking about the neighborhood. How many people are using all the new sidewalks? The neighborhood is off the beaten path as far as traffic is concerned. It is mostly just neighborhood traffic. Is a sidewalk really necessary after all these years? Is losing what the trees can do for us worth destroying them around the old (core) part of town and for some I know it’s too late? Sure, new trees will grow, but it will take nearly 20 years to reach a good, shady size.

This is what trees can do for all of us …

Trees … protect us from UV rays.

Trees … keep our air clean from carbon dioxide.

Trees … release oxygen.

Trees … hold soil in place.

Trees … keep us cool and our houses cool.

Trees … reduce heat loss at night.

Trees … beautify our surroundings.

Trees … provide shade on a hot day.

And just for fun, you can build a treehouse in some of them and many other things.

Is the city really considering all of this when they decided to rid the Core Area of so many trees? It costs to have them destroyed? Is it worth it?

There are some streets in the Core Area not done with yet. Let the powers that be in the city reconsider just what is really necessary. Let the cost factor be your guide. Give us good streets and let the sidewalks go in the Core Area. Let the trees live on.

I will say getting Main Street done was the best of the best of streets done because we needed that for our celebrations and to feel like we had a downtown … my opinion only.

Save the trees,

Mary Ann Nelson

Brandon