MARCO ISLAND — Two beloved Royal Poinciana trees were cut down Wednesday at Mackle Park and the root of the matter is being debated. City officials say safety and protecting a nearby pathway was the cause, but neighbors aren't convinced and are outraged by lack of a forewarning from city leaders.
Dieter Scherner lives next door to Mackle Park. He said he learned of the fate of the large, flowering trees when he was startled by the sound of chainsaws. He and his neighbors went clamoring outside to take a look.
"This tree did not need to be cut down. It looks really butchered right now... We're still shell shocked," Scherner said.
Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Milk reported that safety was the concern that caused the tree, which was located near the aluminum bridge, to be cut down.
“The existing Royal Poinciana was removed due to its proximity to the existing asphalt pathway, which has caused extensive upheaval and fracturing of the existing asphalt pathway surface rendering it irregular and dangerous to passersby,” Milk said.
Annual root pruning adjacent to the tree was not effective in protecting the pathway, which will soon be widened from 8 feet to 12 feet, he added.
Scherner says that may be true for one of the two trees, as he did see a crack in the sidewalk near one tree, but the other one was no where near enough to the sidewalk. Further, the area of pathway near the second tree had no cracks, he reports.
“What a shame... The City of Naples prides itself in having these trees line their streets. What are they doing up there that we can't do down here?" he asked.
"It’s a loss for our Island,” he further exclaimed.
Milk said there was no other option.
“After careful study, it was decided any additional root pruning would restrict the root zone pattern of less than 180 degrees (360 degrees is normal), causing the tree to be very susceptible to falling over due to its location on the lake bank, seasonal high winds, and further root disease,” he wrote in an e-mail Wednesday.
Scherner said the trees were planted decades ago when the park was county, rather than city, property. Nearby residents planted the trees at the request and approval of the county more than 20 years ago, he added.
"They've taken this park away from the people."
May After Five, Marco Island Chamber
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 7
ajm3s writes:
Hey Safety is the fall back position to qualify a decision on Marco Island. Same case as in the other story of the shell driveway debacle. Just a thought: if it was a shell walkway, you could have simply regraded to account for the growth of roots or simply moved the path. Lets see take down a mature tree or regrade a pathway that was to be widened. God help us all. Is this the Tree City of America recipient? Someone help me understand this city and how it is run. Never question ones intent if safety is the rationale.
marco97 writes:
First off if you cut the roots 180 degrees (which would not be necessary) the only way the tree would fall is in the direction of the lake not on the path and the winds would need to be from the east. You have a better chance of being hit by lightning then being hit by that tree in a wind storm. I hope the City had the proper permits to remove these trees.
OldMarcoMan writes:
Its not that they dont like the trees, it's that the City didn't plant them that makes Bryan mad.
You will never hear the same argument from the city over the ugly, eye sores, they forced on people along San Marco, Barfield, Winterberry...............
jbibik#232265 writes:
Say good buy to our Tropical Paradise. I feel it is only going to get worse. Seeing the shift in my own Neighborhood. People with Pools and Living on the water only Hanging with the same. I wish some of you old Money People had to experience how to make new money with out your family's money or Political Connections. I wish more of the City Fathers were brought up the hard way, Then maybe you would appreciate Nature's Beauty.
Joe Bibik (City Resident)
reallifeswfla writes:
Sounds like the work of Rony Joel.
I hear his nickname is hacksaw.
Another example of heavy handed government at work.
These were beautiful trees.
Why didn't they just move the pathway over 10 feet?
Mark-up Island Government buffoonery at its finest.
MarcoDan writes:
Bryan Milk makes reference to "existing" sidewalks. When the trees were cut down, there were no "existing" sidewalks - they had been torn up and removed for the sidewalk widening. The sidewalks certainly could have been moved over 10 feet, since they weren't even there when the trees got butchered. A very poor decision. They were beautiful trees.
islandgma writes:
These trees were beautiful and admired by many full time residents as well as their visiting relatives and friends. Somebody needs to be held accountable for this most insensative decision. If it is somebody in charge of making sure things that are beautiful remain that way than perhaps their time at that position has run out. The one thing we have is the pride in the beauty of the island and any decision regarding such has been cruelly and most selfishly ignored. I love living here but it is getting harder to to explain to others why those "in charge" of making such decision aren't run out of town. And I'm sure we'll need to get the main roads paved once again since we are in contast barage of work and dump trucks.
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