Neighbors upset over trees cut down at Album Park
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Neighbors around Album Park in East El Paso are upset trees were cut down on Thursday.
Some residents reached out to ABC-7 and said they were “not told this was going to happen.”
Dr. Katherine Lawson has watched the trees at Eastwood Park grow for more than 50 years. Now, seeing some of them come down is heartbreaking.
“All of them have a story. Every single tree here has a story,” Lawson said.
Lawson said the park has long felt like home. She recalled helping care for the trees decades ago.
“It was 1973. The park asked Mr. Nathan and I to water the trees for them,” Lawson said. “He would have a cup of coffee and I’d have a cup of cocoa. Then we would make our rounds and water all the trees.”
That’s why watching crews remove some of the aging mulberry trees has been so emotional.
“It’s like losing a part of your life,” Lawson said.
While she understands the trees pose safety concerns, she said the removals have still been difficult.
“I wasn’t prepared for it,” she said.
City parks officials said not every tree inspected had to be removed. Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Emigdio Gonzalez said crews were able to trim dead branches from most of the mulberry trees to help extend their lifespan.
“Part of trying to extend the life of some mulberries here at Eastwood Park,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said the city conducts the work every year to keep visitors safe and improve tree health.
“Deadwood up in a tree is dangerous with wind. A person walking underneath could be at risk,” Gonzalez said. “It’s also detrimental to the tree. It can be a way for disease to enter the tree.”
Still, officials determined 14 mulberry trees were beyond saving and needed to be removed.
“When we get to the point where there’s not enough leaf coverage and it is a hazard for safety, then we remove those,” Gonzalez said.
The city plans to replace the lost canopy by planting two new trees for every one removed. The replacement trees will not be mulberries.
“Our plan this offseason is to build back 30,” Gonzalez said.
Lawson said she believes the city will follow through on its promise to replant, but she knows it will take years for the park to regain the shade that generations have enjoyed.
“The happiness that it brought to everybody, to walk and have the shade,” Lawson said. “All of us grew up with the trees being this tall and then so huge and protecting us.”
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