Tree Massacre at Downtown Park

The walkway along the east side (and even the circle) feels so different now that Downtown Park’s trees near the construction site have been cut. Walkers and joggers on the circle will have a view of Safeway until the new tower is put up, and then they will be on display for the building’s occupants (and vice versa). Maybe it will feel like the building then gets a lawn, but it still seems like a decrease in privacy for residents there.

There was a mention of this possibility in the plans for Bosa Park Row, and I’m not the only one who wrote to city hall to protest it – it’s been mentioned on Reddit before. Still, this took me by surprise – I don’t see any permits for tree removal attached to the parcel for the park (using Bellevue Map Viewer). I was also surprised that in addition to the line of trees where there are now 23 stumps, there were six trees on the south end of the walkway that were cut down (various types). The fact that the cutting was planned as part of the building construction makes me think that they won’t be replanted with anything comparable.

Downtown Park walkway blocked for construction, with stumps visible behind a chain link fence.

View from the Downtown Park circle, to the SE

Tree stumps between the Downtown Park walking path and the construction site, with tree debris visible next to an excavator.

This is a memorial bench dedicated to the Bellevue High Class of 1964, which would formerly have been a shady and quiet escape from the city.

View from the Downtown Park circle to the NE (Safeway)

There were twenty-three trees lining this walkway before.

An additional six trees of various kinds were cut here.

Before

Before