Amber (guest) 08 Aug 2011 18:46
Hey fellow South Seattle friends,
A quick note. The city is planning to move a large number of trees in Othello Park. If you have a minute and love trees and parks, please consider sending a letter (a sample is below) to the city to object.
The reason they cite is to improve "sitelines", ostensibly for public safety? However I'm a woman who often walks alone through that park at night and have never felt unsafe because of the trees! You can see through them easily (all the lower branches have been removed) and they are spaced far enough apart to keep anyone but Gumby from hiding behind them. The city already removed a big clump of trees leaving a corner of the park bare, looking more like a golf course than a park. :( South Seattle doesn't have enough green spaces as it is, and we can't afford to make the few we have even less green.
As you may know, many South Seattle neighborhoods have far fewer trees than the rest of the city. The city's Urban Forestry Commission has identified many South Seattle neighborhoods (including Rainier Beach & new Holly) to increase the tree canopy. If you love our local parks and don't want South Seattle further de-treed, would you mind taking a moment to write a letter to the city?
Sample letter below can be cut & paste or modified. *Please forward to any other South side neighbors and friends*.
Relevant links about the city trying to increase trees in our neighborhoods:
http://seattle.gov/urbanforestrycommission/
http://www.glennaroberts.com/2010/08/24/its-time-to-re-tree-south-seattle/
Thanks so much!Amber
To: vog.elttaes|dloog.yllek#vog.elttaes|dloog.yllek
CC: city council members (vog.elttaes|eman.rieht#vog.elttaes|eman.rieht)
Subject: Stop Planned Tree Removal at Othello Park!
I am a resident of South Seattle and recently heard that the city has started to remove a large number of trees in Othello Park. As somebody who loves and uses our neighborhood parks, I strongly oppose this plan. On the signs posted by the city the rationale given is to improve sitelines, but visibility in the park is not significantly impacted by the trees which are easy to see through. Furthermore, the proposed increased lighting should address any potential visibility concerns.
I've also heard that a report by the city Urban Forestry Commission indicates that many South Seattle neighborhoods, including Rainier Beach and New Holly, where Othello Park is, have a lower percentage of the trees than elsewhere in the city. Additionally, the report notes that these neighborhoods have seen an overall loss in tree coverage in recent years and the city's reLeaf program is aimed at reversing this trend. Therefore, if anything, we should be adding not subtracting trees from Othello Park.
I request that plans to cut down trees in Othello Park or cancelled or at least delayed to give time for more public feedback.
Thank you for your time