Why trees are being felled in Montreal's La Fontaine Park
28 May 2019
'We heard a tree crack,' says teacher of nearby school who has seen firsthand the danger of weak trees.
With its artificial lake surrounded by a rolling treescape, Montreal's iconic La Fontaine Park is brimming with a majestic mix of saplings and ancient hardwoods.
But a total of 132 of those to trees are being taken down by the city because, with hollow trunks, they pose a threat to the public.
Residents of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough who live near the park have been serenaded by chainsaws in recent days as crews have begun felling what amounts to 4.3 per cent of the park's approximately 3,100 trees.
The city warned residents before beginning the project, which will take an estimated two years. Crews will also be reforesting the park next, planting 200 new trees by 2025.
The city says the trees were damaged during the ice storm of 1998. Since then, workers have made effort to slow their decline.
