To the editor:
At what cost?
A Western Red Cedar (thuja plicata) was cut down in the park and placed into the asphalt on N.E. 2nd Street recently. This Western Red Cedar was ‘one’ of only three of this species, age and size in Hermiston. Now there are only two.
This tree was located in Victory Square Park and dates back to World War ll when the land was originally owned by the federal government for housing during the construction of the munitions depot and was commonly known as, Tertle Town.
Trees provide historic value to the past. Old trees, especially ones from WWll are regarded as important because they have lived through eras which we have few other connections.
Almost everyone knows that trees are valuable and contribute to the environment such as: air, noise, wind, soil, storm water and climate control. The benefits this tree provided because of its size and age, both environmentally and monetarily are irreplaceable.
Being a licensed arborist with the Pacific Northwest Chapter and the International Society of Arborists, it is my hope for the future of trees in Hermiston that this appalling act is never repeated.
Sincerely,
Doug Bennett, Hermiston
Thank you Doug for this letter. It is just beyond sadness that this occurred! I’m not sure who in Hermiston, possibly Park and Recreation Department, or who can make such a decision to kill a beautiful tree?
I would certainly hope that the City Manager or someone would create a system where any employee would have to go to a committee or something for permission to kill another tree. Maybe they did and it was approved?
What an irreversible error this was.
Debbie Schultz
64 yr resident of this area
There is a parks and recreation committee in Hermiston. One of the members of that committee offered a tree to the city, but was told, no we have one. This story deserves a complete investigation.
Comments are closed.