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What’s Happening at Patrick Henry Park?

There seems to be some pruning going on at Patrick Henry Park

Eva asks on FB:

Does anyone know what’s happening to the giant trees being cut down in Patrick Henry Park? 
I called the city and they sounded confused as to why it was happening, and said they were sending someone to investigate.


The Urban Forestry Division is part of the Department of Public Works. We are reaching out for an update.

12 comments

Teresa Nieding Carrel 11/14/2019 at 6:17 AM

Following…

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Martha McConnell Looney 11/14/2019 at 7:32 AM

Also following

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David Conmy 11/14/2019 at 8:49 AM

Over the last couple of months as I’ve walked through there, I’ve noticed that several of the trees were in rough shape. I don’t know for sure, but my guess is that they’re being taken down because the trees are dying and/or diseased.

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David Seibert 11/14/2019 at 10:44 AM

I just wish this park was useable. I work directly next to it and in a given week I see about 2 people use the park for anything. I mean I get it. Richmond Hill and Jefferson Hill are like 2 blocks away so this park is not making a high value proposition.

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Richard Borean 11/14/2019 at 11:47 AM

I really hope they don’t cut the rest of the trees down! It’s my favorite nature nook in Church Hill!

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Liv Glavé 11/14/2019 at 12:03 PM

Hmmmm maybe they are redesigning the park? Making it safer? Guessing…

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Karen 11/15/2019 at 7:22 AM

I read somewhere (NextDoor maybe? really can’t remember) that there are some trees that are diseased and need to come down. If I can find my source, I will share!

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Meriwether Broaddus 11/17/2019 at 1:37 PM

The city Arborist for Church Hill is Michael Staton. To direct questions to him email Michael.Staton@richmondgov.com.

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Kay 11/18/2019 at 2:04 PM

Please don’t make the suggestion that your perception that this parking isn’t being used is a good reason to plant another hideous structure in its place. We have enough god awful new construction around here…

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Eva 11/19/2019 at 10:22 AM

Update: The wonderful (and very fast to respond!) director of the Richmond City parks department just called to inform me that the trees are being removed (by the dept of Urban Forestry) due to injuries they sustained from “unauthorized pruning” that happened about a year ago by a private company.

Apparently there is an active investigation regarding the pruning that caused the ultimate death of these trees.

How sad.

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Beekeeper 11/19/2019 at 11:46 AM

Pollinators frequented these trees when in bloom, much more than “pruning”, more like desecration of a crucial link in our local biology. Irresponsible actions with no consequences to the perpetrators, devastating to the environment. I would like to know who, why.

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Eva Tiner Skillman 11/19/2019 at 10:21 PM

Update: the director of Richmond City parks called today to inform me that the Department of Urban Forestry has had to remove the trees (including a whole row of holly trees) because of improper pruning that happened last year by a private company.
She also mentioned that they were looking into the possibility of legal recourse.

So there’s that.

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