According to Ms. Rief of the ACPS Board, the tree is still there, as of 7/27. But the board and the mayor are still giving the line that it was publicly discussed in 2018, and that the only other possible location is too close to residences. I pointed out that, given the noise and lights of a football game, a concession stand could hardly add much more to the level of disturbance that will already be there. The entire project should be reconsidered for the sake of nearby residences. I also reminded Ms. Rief that a great deal has changed since 2018- including ever-worsening flooding in Alexandria. How will the removal of a 150-year-old tree and its extensive root system affect our flooding? And speaking of that root system, Mayor Wilson says it is partly to blame for the inability to put the concession stand in another location- the roots are so far-spread it would interfere with building anywhere near the tree. Surely that should be indicative of how important those roots are- imagine the settling the ground would do upon their removal, the lack of absorption that ground could do, and the expense of removing them. 

Clearly this entire issue deserves more attention- and the coronavirus situation has given us a gift of additional time- there won’t by any football games anytime soon, after all. Please keep growing this petition, and write to the school board and mayor independently as well!

Thanks,

Erin