Washington Park Loses Another Tree

At 7:00 a.m. this morning, work began on removing the tree at the corner of Union and West Court streets, in the park in front of the courthouse. These pictures were taken by Gossips about a half an hour into the process.

These pictures, provided by readers, were taken at various points later on in the process.

Photo: Verity Smith

Photo: Verity Smith

Information received by Gossips is that the tree had reached the end of its life and had to come down. 

Back in 2021, when two other trees in the park--a maple tree along West Court Street and an ancient locust on Union Street--were cut down, this tree was pruned. 

Photo: Bill Huston

But today was its turn to be cut down.

The County frequently removes trees from Washington Park, but the trees lost are never replaced. 

When the first courthouse--the first of three--stood on this site, there was order and pattern to the trees in the park.

That is not so today.

As the trees in the park are removed, it would be nice if there were a plan for replacing them, one that brought some symmetry and design back to the park, as well as desirable shade.

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