SADLY, NEARLY 30 DOWNTOWN TREES ARE GONE; NOW IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT PLANTING NEW TREES

For Cape Girardeau residents who have a deep appreciation for mature trees, the sight of crews cutting down nearly 30 big trees in the downtown area and shredding them into mulch is almost too much to bear.

But the city says the trees were in poor shape and needed to be removed because of root damage to sidewalks, gutters and streets. The city's Tree Advisory Board assessed each of the trees proposed for removal. Property owners were notified beginning in April of the appeal process (several property owners are appealing). Most of the trees are gone. Even their stumps have been removed.

It's one thing to lament the loss of the trees. It's another to look to the future. New trees should be planted. Perhaps the Tree Advisory Board can come up with ideas for suitable trees that might not have to be axed 50 or 100 years from now.