Tree Risk Complaints at the Zoo

As the Woodland Park Zoo expands its West Entry, near Phinney Ave. and 55th St., some Seattle residents are concerned about what the new, improved gate is displacing: trees. The construction project required the removal of 14 trees, according to local arborist and tree advocate Michael Oxman.

Oxman has been keeping an eye on the project, and he’s concerned about the health and safety of the remaining trees. Construction may pose a threat to some of the Zoo’s old trees, and Oxman says he noticed trees that had not been properly fenced and mulched.

He filed a complaint with the City on December 31st, complete with photos of rebar and other construction material stacked against one tree, but he says inspectors didn’t find anything when they visited the site. The complaint is online, but still listed as “not resolved.”

The Zoo says their treatment of the trees has followed the tree protection plan they have in place, , although they did find and move the rebar after Oxman brought it to their attention. The Zoo has an arborist on site to make sure that its trees — some of which are over a century old — are properly cared for.

Although some trees were removed as part of the West Entry construction, Zoo spokesman David Schaefer said that the plans were drawn up with trees in mind. “We actually moved one building to protect a tree, so it didn’t come down,” he said

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