Since the following letter was posted, Barb Converse has returned to the site at issue and on June 22 said she was pleased the developer had cleared away the dirt that had been piled up against the special tree.
Letter to the editor:
This is a follow-up to an editorial that you were kind enough to publish back on April 5, 2007, with regards to a 183 (actually 184, year old Ponderosa Pine, as the aging of it was done over a year ago) and EPRD, where I said : "I cannot imagine the grading and compacting of the soil that will go so close to the tree will permit it to live. . . .It has survived droughts, torrential rains . . . However, I do not believe it will be able to survive the ownership of Evergreen Parks and Recreation." Please do me the favor of publishing this one as well.
Dear EPRD and Editor:
It has been with great interest and concern that I have been watching the development of Stagecoach Park. Why it was necessary to make what was the naturally highest part of the existing park the new lowest part, and what was naturally the lowest part of the existing park the highest is beyond me.
Over development is what I would speculate. However I had resigned myself to the fact that the board was going to turn a deaf ear to that concern. As they chose to disregard the more than 600 petitions that were presented to them at the April 17, 2007 board meeting.
Those petitions were simply asking that the park not be overdeveloped. I had hoped, however, that they would keep their word and protect the 184-year-old Ponderosa Pine and a few of the other old growth trees that were close to it.
In walking around the park, on June 19 I noticed that at least one T-post had been pulled from the ground and the fence was cut and had been thrown back by about 20 feet by the 184 year old Ponderosa.
Additionally the same thing had done to a T-post and fencing around the other old growth trees. The 184-year-old Ponderosa now has excessive dirt piled under its drip line and it is obvious that heavy equipment is running under it as well. Keeping the drip line from excavation and compaction of soil is the absolute minimum that should be observed in order to permit it to survive considering all the other changes that are going on in its close proximity. Heavy equipment was also running over the drip line of one of the other old growth trees.
I am writing this in hopes that this was done by an overzealous contractor and
not with the permission or blessing of EPRD. I am hoping you will expeditiously, yet cautiously and gently remedy this situation. This is not simply about a broken fence or two; it is about a broken promise and trust between EPRD and this community.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Converse
30058 Appaloosa Drive
Evergreen, CO 80439
303-674-6738