This line of trees is expected to be cut down from the sidewalks of the Glasgow Square overnight on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Fifteen trees will soon be replaced with flowers, officials say.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — The city’s Department of Public Works will begin removing 15 trees along downtown’s sidewalks Tuesday evening.
The trees, stumps and roots along the sidewalks are expected to be completely removed by early Wednesday. Their removal is partly due to the city’s effort to “revitalize downtown.”
“Like in front of City Hall and the government building, and all the way around,” said April Russell, an employee with the DPW. “There are 15 trees we’re going to remove.”
Another reason is the growing concern among business owners and downtown property owners.
The trees have grown larger than expected, Russell said.
“They are double the size than they were originally supposed to be,” she said. “The roots have caused damage to our sidewalks. They have caused lots of damage to the foundation of some of the buildings around.”
Some roots are visible in the basements of certain buildings. And some business owners are upset about the blockade the trees present to their signage.
One tree near Beula C. Nunn Park will not be removed. The park is a few steps uphill from Yancey’s Gastropub & Brewery.
The DPW plans to place flowerpots in the ground by the end of the week to fill the void.
“That change is going to happen very rapidly,” she said. “We’re not just going to leave them and then in six months put them.”
A permanent replacement option is expected to be discussed soon.
Trees surrounding the Barren County Courthouse will not be touched. That land and its maintenance is governed by the county government.