Some residents of Humber Bay Shores Park have taken to social media in a bid to save 200 trees which they claim are slated to be cut down near the amphitheatre and butterfly garden area.
Outraged members of the community are circulating an online petition and demanding Councillor Mark Grimes and other city officials halt the removal of the estimated 200 trees from the park.
Some people on social media say the deforestation of the waterfront park can lead to a loss of habitat of animals and plant species, increased greenhouse gases, less water in the atmosphere, soil erosion, flooding, increasing traffic and sound pollution.
”I am firmly against killing these trees and also against spending taxpayer money to do so,” one angry resident wrote.
Grimes in a letter says ‘the state of the Humber Bay Shores Park amphitheatre area has been a concern for a number of years now.’
He did not “order the removal’ of the trees but asked City staff to come up with some options to clean up the overgrown area, an initiative supported by the Humber Bay Shoes Condo Association.
“The plan for this space has always been to have it manicured and maintained, however due to budgetary restrictions, this have not been achieved,” Grimes wrote, adding a lack of maintenance has left the site overgrown with invasive species.
He says City staff have identified about 113 trees which require pruning to elevate lower hanging limbs and clear the pathways.
“We are told by Forestry staff that any tree marked for removal are generally smaller invasive species, or trees that are no longer viable to be maintained,” according to Grimes. The letter states ”over 75% of the trees recommended for removal are under 5-cm in diameter, with the rest being under 10-cm and under 15-cm.”
“The current condition of the site has led to the area being used for illegal activity as the coverage area in the area hides these activities from public view,” he says.
Humber Bay Park East covers 19-hectares, or 47 acres, while Humber Bay Park West extends on 120 hectares, or about 300 acres. The park, which was opened in June 1984, has a 27% tree canopy growth.
Residents on social media say they haven’t given up their fight to save the trees.