Madison Park neighbors fight to save century-old Redwood tree

A 100-year-old Redwood tree that is part of a pocket forest in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood is in danger of being cut down.

The tree was planted in the yard of a home at the corner of McGilvra Blvd East and 39th Street East. Neighbors said the homeowner has plans to build a retaining wall, and the tree stands in the way.

“At least two 100-year-old Redwoods and several smaller ones. We also have a 100-year-old Port Orford Cedar tree on the property,” neighbor Julie Tokashiki Skerritt said.

The homeowner told KOMO News that he actually changed his plans to spare all the trees except for one. Neighbors said it is the tallest and the oldest.

‘You can have both’: Madison Park neighbors seek middle ground

A group of concerned neighbors held a rally over the weekend. They said they don’t oppose the development of the property, but they hope a compromise can be reached.

“What we’re saying is you can have both. You can have development, and you can keep the trees. So, that’s ideally what we’d love to see,” Tokashiki Skerritt said. “These trees give so much back to us, not only because of their innate beauty, but also everything they do for our clean water and clean air.”

Along with the environmental concerns, Tokashiki Skerritt said the tree also appears to be a habitat for bald eagles.

“Yesterday we saw a pair of eagles fly into the tree that is slated to come down,” Tokashiki Skerritt said.

 

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There has been no word yet on when the tree is scheduled to be cut down.

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