Hennepin Avenue Trees at Risk

© Tim Sheridan / Hill and Lake Press

The Hennepin Avenue redevelopment planning process began in 2018. Recently, the Hill and Lake Press and Star Tribune reported that 155 boulevard trees on 12 blocks of Hennepin Avenue are at risk of destruction, a decision that will be made in the current and final design phase of the project. Why possible tree destruction was not a prominent part of the public comment phase of the design process is unknown.

However what is known, according to the Nature Conservancy, is that trees eat greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Trees clean the air so we can breathe more easily. Trees filter water to make it cleaner and more reliable to drink. Trees cool down your life, and could even save it. Trees boost our mental and physical health. Trees are home to all kinds of wildlife. Trees enhance our environment. Even if the final plan includes planting new trees, it will take 20-30 years for them to reach maturity.

If you support preserving the mature urban tree canopy on Hennepin Avenue, add your name to this change.org petition.