Local News

City Plans To Cut Down Thousands Of Trees

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Majestic shade trees define the very character of many Pittsburgh neighborhoods -- some of those trees are more than a century old.

But KDKA has learned the city has embarked on a plan to remove thousands of them without public input.

The city says it is a necessity-- but KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan reports residents are just getting wind of the plan-- and want it stopped.

In Squirrel Hill, the streets are lined with towering shade trees but that could be about to change.

The city has embarked on a program to cut down more than 3,000 trees over the next five years -- including a London Plain tree in front of Lewko Korzeniwsky's house on Monitor Street.

"It provides a huge canopy. It's the largest tree on the block. It's an enormous shade tree. It shades the entire front of our house," said Korzeniwsky.

In fact, some 550 trees are slated for removal in Squirrel Hill alone -- including half a dozen across the street from Korzeniwsky, who says their removal will forever change the character of the neighborhood.

"Everybody dreams of living on a nice, tree-lined street and when you remove all the mature trees in one grouping at one time it has a tremendous impact," said Korzeniwsky.

The goal of 3,000 trees city-wide is necessary according to city public works director Mike Gable, who overseas the Forestry Division, which has come up with the plan to identify and remove dead or dying trees.

"Trees are an asset but when they become diseased or decayed, they're a liability," said Gable. "We don't want them falling on cars or people's houses."

Gable says the city, which did not announce the plan to the public, has already removed more than 1,000 dead trees and will start to remove more aging or diseased trees going forward.

Neighbors say many of the trees are still vibrant and should be spared.

"We'd like the city realize its desire to be a green city," said Korzeniwsky.

They're asking the city to conduct another inventory and develop a more gradual plan.

"So we're asking the city to halt this removal until such a plan is implemented or developed," said Korzeniwsky. "Then, if the trees have to be removed, stage it over time."

But the city, which enlisted a consultant and has allocated close to $8 million for the project, has no plans of turning back.

The city hired a consultant who identified the trees for removal.

However, many of those trees may be saved if some resident have their say about it.

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