Update: The tree removal project is set to begin this Monday, November 18 with 50 trees marked for destruction and still no replacement trees due to be planted on NE 40th St. I am disheartened but not giving up. You can email your concerns to the office of Mayor Angela Birney at mayor@redmond.gov or MayorCouncil@redmond.gov soon.

Please read on, sign and share now.

This issue is profoundly personal to myself, an ardent lover of nature, and to many in our community. The trees situated on NE 40th Street, west of Bel-Red Road, are at imminent risk. The City of Redmond plans to cut down the 40-year-old trees next week (November 18, 2024) in favor of a sterile concrete sidewalk. If this happens, NE 40th Street will lose the overarching green canopy it has had for years. These woody sentinels, which were planted in the '80s, are more than just landscape features; they are crucial partners in our fight against climate change. They filter the air we breathe, provide a home for local fauna, and enhance the beauty of our city. 

The city of Redmond argues the trees are not the "appropriate species" for their location and have caused disruption to the sidewalk, rendering it potentially unsafe for pedestrians and nonconforming to ADA guidelines. This opens the door for an honest, necessary discussion on city development and environmental preservation methods, finding an environmentally friendly plan to improve the sidewalks while preserving the well established trees that serve our community in vital ways, or, at the very least, planting new trees at the same location that the city would deem appropriate.

According to a report from Global Forest Watch, urban trees in Washington State can cut air conditioning needs by 30% and save $7.8 billion in energy costs on a national level annually (Global Forest Watch, 2019 - www.globalforestwatch.org). On the other hand, concrete surfaces, with their heat-trapping properties, accelerate global warming. The disparity is alarming. 

It is essential we strike a balance – creating a pedestrian-friendly city while preserving our trees. Let's demand that the city of Redmond prioritize both pedestrian safety and our irreplaceable green lungs. Instead of removing trees, the city can employ innovative urban planning to incorporate the presence of trees and honor our collective responsibility to combat climate change. 

Don't let these towering allies in our fight against global warming be replaced with more concrete. Stand with us. Sign and share this petition to save the trees on NE 40th Street.