By Brenda Erdahl
Maple Lake’s main street will look a little different after three decorative trees are removed later this summer.
Three of the larger maple trees that line Birch Avenue must be cut down because of the trees’ shallow roots that have buckled the sidewalk causing a tripping hazard for pedestrians, said Public Works Director Al Hudek.
According to Messenger Archives, the decorative trees were part of a 2008 Birch Avenue Reconstruction project and included nine trees in the block of Birch Avenue between Division Street and 1st Street. They consisted of a mix of Honey Locusts and Autumn Blaze Maples.
According to Hudek, it’s the larger maple trees that are causing the problems. One had to be cut down a year or so ago for similar reasons.
The trees that will remain were treated with a growth inhibitor so haven’t caused the same issues, he said.
Hudek expects the trees will be taken down within the next few weeks. The City Council will then have to decide what to replace them with. One of the ideas that came up at a recent council meeting was decorative planters, but nothing was decided.
It’s visible where the shallow roots of this maple tree on Birch Ave. is pushing the sidewalk up causing a tripping hazard for pedestrians.