Battle over trees is brewing in Rehoboth Beach
By: Tasha Jamerson
Delaware is getting ready to remove trees along Rehoboth Avenue because they say they’re too old and diseased. But as WHYY’s Tasha Jamerson reports, many residents say the trees are an important part of local history and they don’t want them going anywhere.
By: Tasha Jamerson
tjamerson@whyy.org
Delaware is getting ready to remove trees along Rehoboth Avenue because they say they’re too old and diseased. But as WHYY’s Tasha Jamerson reports, many residents say the trees are an important part of local history and they don’t want them going anywhere.
Listen:
[audio: reports20090327deltrees.mp3]
The sycamores that majestically line the entrance into Rehoboth Beach have been standing tall since the 1930’s. But they will soon be just fond memories.
Most of the trees will be removed in the next few weeks. DelDOT says they have to go because of work on the road and the sycamores are diseased. Rehoboth beach Mayor Samuel Cooper says originally he was told by DelDOT that just one of the trees would be removed, but found out on Wednesday when the chainsaws started buzzing that 7 are actually being pulled out.
Cooper: I have to believe that they knew how important these trees were and they could have been more sensitive.
The trees were planted during the effort by anti-suffragist Mary Wilson Thompson to improve the natural beauty in the state back in the 1930’s.
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