Del Ray residents form a chain around a tree at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray, June 22, 2023 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Several Del Ray residents clutched an oak tree Wednesday scheduled for removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray, just days after the city council approved a plan to renovate the park.
Gisele McAuliffe, a Del Ray resident for 30 years, says the city’s approved plan to renovate the park will come at too high a cost — removing 40 trees. The age of the trees is disputed, as the city states that the oldest trees on the property were planted in the 1940s, while McAuliffe and her friends measured the trees and claim they are over 100 years old.
“The reason they’re tearing down these beautiful trees is because they want to expand parking and build grandstands,” McAuliffe said. “A park that needs to accommodate cars when there’s plenty of on-street and other parking in the area just doesn’t make sense.”
The approved plan calls for the removal of 41 trees around the 16-acre property to make way for an expanded parking lot, new lighting and pedestrian improvements. According to the city, the trees slated for removal have no chance of being saved.
“To mitigate the removal of 41 trees, the city is planting 110 native trees and over 350 shrubs,” says Jack Browand, the city’s associate director for parks services. “The design doubles the total tree canopy that currently exists in the park.”
The land for Simpson Park was donated to the city in the 1940s, and the park’s two baseball fields were built in 1953.
“The city has not identified a tree that is said to be 150 years old,” Browand said. “Historical photos show that the site dates back to at least the late 1940’s and was primarily an open space with an informal baseball field.”
According to the city, the new trees, along with the trees to be retained, will provide 25.3% canopy coverage on the site, meeting the 25% minimum requirement and doubling the current 12% canopy cover.
The Approved Plan for Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray (via City of Alexandria)
www.alxnow.com
https://www.alxnow.com/2023/06/22/del-ray-residents-decry-tree-removal-at-eugene-simpson-stadium-park/
