Lion’s Park ‘Hope’ Sequoia tree on trial

By Abigail Vidals and Ricky Talbot

 

With roots that trace back years of life, a sequoia tree in Port Angeles has become an important factor in a major dispute between neighbors. 

The majestic, Christmas looking tree is situated in Lion’s Park and has also been given the name of  “Hope.” With a group of concerned citizens coming together to hold protests and have even created a group known as the tree advisory council. 

This all has been brought to the attention of the Port Angeles City Council meetings.  

Information at the moment is not well researched.  

Members from the community and the council can’t agree on the facts.  

A member of the community who is an arborist, says that the issue has not been looked at closely.  

To get an unbiased opinion, Peninsula Urban Forestry President John Bornsworth recommended a third party arborist to the council to come in and give their professional opinion.  

The recommendation according to Mayor Sissi Bruch, is that “This tree is a high liability for the safety of both people and property.”  

From the eyes of the community, “Hope” provides four people a day the air that they need to breathe.  

To cut down this tree would be seen to the S.O.S. (Save Our Sequoia) group as an act of environmental suicide. 

City Councilmember Jim Moran, with the agreement of the council, stated that “It is not the council’s decision… It is an administration decision,” on whether the tree is to be cut down.  

In other words, the City Council is not responsible for the final decision, it is out of their hands.  

They do see that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the tree and the facts surrounding its potential removal.  

The large concern is the danger and liability represented by the tree splitting off into two heads.  

Ellen Fetchet, a self-proclaimed tree hugger of Port Angeles feels dismay that some individuals seem to think it is more important for the tree to survive, than to prevent danger, “that’s likely gonna come because of global warming, and the big winds we’ve begun to have that seem to be increasing.”