Save Our Tree (Last year it had 5 nests in it)

[Rocky1]

Sidewalk replacement is being planned. Given that this large tree leans toward the house, if they cut the roots, it may become dangerous - and that is the logic my same-building neighbors are using to argue that it should be cut down. There are few large trees around here due to a tree illness that eliminated many of them over the past few years. Wildlife needs a place to live, and I would like to save this tree by coming up with alternatives to cutting the roots.

If you can think of any way to make a new sightly sidewalk without trimming roots, please let me know. Include any information you can think of that might help me convince my neighbors to leave this tree alone. I think the best way to do this would be to have a plan for a sightly sidewalk that somehow avoids cutting the roots of the tree. Here's a picture.

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[Carol Lynn]

I have seen towns where they make the sidewalks curved to accommodate trees. It is probably more costly, though. Good luck. I hate when they cut down trees. My street was lined with old trees when I moved here 9 years ago. The year after I moved in they came through and cut every last one down. I protested at the municipal building but to no avail...

[Mel1959]

My town has taken up some perfectly fine straight sidewalks and replaced them with curving sidewalks. They curved the sidewalks and accommodated trees as well as other things. The new meandering sidewalks are suppose to be more aesthetically pleasing and better for the environment if they can avoid cutting down trees. Maybe you can use that argument. Good luck.

[Rocky1]

Does anyone have pictures of great looking curved sidewalks? I will also google image. Just trying to choose well before I approach my neighbors with ideas for the sidewalk (...that will preserve the tree).

[Carol Lynn]

I just Googled it and found this. There are lots of others, too.

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[missPixy]

property values are higher in neighborhoods with more trees. crime is lower as well. this may or may not be of interest to your neighbor, but given that other trees are already gone due to disease, it would seem every effort should be made to preserve what's still there as well as replace what was lost.

any time you see on the news some crazy drive-by shooting or other violent crime, the majority of time it's in some neighborhood devoid of trees.