Why are they killing all the mature trees in Freeway Park? for Questionland Seattle

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Why are they killing all the mature trees in Freeway Park?

Every couple of months they murder some more. It feels like some kind of "Logan's Run" shit going on over there. What's up with all that?

deadlyfingers asked in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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From the Parks website:

When Freeway Park was originally designed and constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, its design intent was to create a park providing promenades, views of Elliott Bay and a green space in the middle of the city. The trees have grown over the years to such an extent that their canopies now shade much of the understory shrubs and ground cover plants. The grass and lawn that still remains are challenged due to lack of light. The selective removal of these trees is part of an overall plan to make the park more inviting to everyone and to encourage its active use by children, neighbors, downtown workers, and visitors using the Convention Center and Visitors Bureau.

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/maintenance/FreewayPark.htm

Mark Johnson answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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I used to go to Freeway Park a lot when it was first built and I lived on First Hill. It was a really pleasant place to do my homework, have lunch, whatever. These days, if I'm downtown for some reason, I sometimes will still venture in there, but it's dark, it's scary, and there are too many hiding places for whackjobs. It was never meant to be Fangorn Forest. They made bad decisions planting large trees; they should have stuck to species that don't grow huge.

I won't go in there at all after dark, since I have my vagina with me.

Geni answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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I call bullshrimp on Dewey. The original landscape architect failed to consider the impact of mature trees on Freeway Park. Deodar cedars while beautiful have never been commonly known as 'safe' trees: the massive limbs have a habit of dropping off, in wind or snow load conditions.

Sad to see them stumped, but they were a blow-over hazard. A relatively tiny tree pit and a large sail area, combined with overspreading limbs, would eventually doom these tall & wide trees to root throw and overturning. And those limbs crush cars admirably.

BTW, the city does not generally approve evergreens or conifers, such as Deodar cedars, for street tree planting. And Freeway Park is built over & around streets (duh)! Sigh- the Parks Department dances to its own piper, and city of Seattle departments do not coordinate or work well together.

Abdul Alhazred answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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I wrote about this in March:

In all, 82 Deodar cedars will get cut. Those trees, which are essentially living in shallow planter boxes suspended over the freeway, have grown faster than expected. The roots are hogging soil and blocking light from shorter plants. The tall trees with small root bases pose a safety threat because they are susceptible to “being blown over by strong winds,” says Iain Robertson, the landscape architect overseeing the project.

“This was the first lidded freeway park in the universe, so there was no track record for what kind of trees to plant,” explains Dewey Potter, spokeswoman for Seattle Parks and Recreation.

More: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/03/04/conifer_carnage_in_freeway_par

Dominic Holden answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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I thought it was also because many of the planters aren't big/deep enough for mature trees, and the trees are at risk of toppling over.

keshmeshi answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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Walking through Freeway Park in the 1990s was a joy. The sophisticated layering of trees, shrubs, ferns and perennials always produced magical surprises throughout the year. I'm dismayed at the "improvements" The original plantings by Betty Miller, in consultation with the Landscape Architect, Lawrence Halprin, have been destroyed and replaced with a very uninspired selection. There is no longer any overarching concept for the park and the result is a patchwork of "solutions"

Polka Party answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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