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>first of next year, the permanent nature of the city's planned "tree <br /> >topping" action in Hendricks Park <br /> >this next week needs to be temporarily suspended. With the welcome <br /> >addition of funding for a forest <br /> >management plan for Hendricks Park, and the issues addressed below, we <br /> >feel that topping these <br /> >trees at this time does not make any sense. <br /> >The city parks and maintenance personnel have removed most of the <br /> >initially targeted trees from the <br /> > "cut list" over the last six months. I believe that they would agree <br /> >that a forest management plan is an <br /> >important decision making tool for Hendricks Park. <br /> >We feel that more study needs to be done before any irreversible actions <br /> >are taken. We are now at <br /> >a threshold, where the very study that we have been advocating for is <br /> > possible. These trees are not <br /> >an imminent danger to people and property. To forestall cutting for a <br /> >few months until the real issues <br /> >are addressed and the best solutions assessed will harm no one and may <br /> >save many more than just <br /> >these trees. <br /> > <br /> > Sincerely, <br /> >Ron R. Funke, <br /> > Vice - President <br /> >Friends of Hendricks Park <br /> > <br /> >Note: The Friends of Hendricks Park is an outgrowth of the Hendricks <br /> >Park Tree Committee that is <br /> >dedicated to the constructive oversight of the natural areas of <br /> >Hendricks Park and other urban forest <br /> >environments within the City of Eugene. We will strive to be a positive <br /> >voice for stewardship of our <br /> >remaining natural urban forest resources. Scientifically based <br /> >evaluation, with a long -term focus on <br /> >selective management in a transitional forest framework will be our <br /> > basis of action. Our first organizational meeting brought together 15 <br /> >citizens from all parts of the city. <br /> > <br /> >Following is a Letter the Editor sent to the Register -Guard <br /> > <br /> > Letter to the Editor, Sunday, December 14, 1997 <br /> > Eugene Register Guard <br /> >Eugene Oregon <br /> > <br /> > Letter to the Editor, <br /> >On December 12th the City of Eugene issued a press release stating "To <br /> >temporarily stabilize six <br /> > hazardous trees in Hendricks Park, their tops will be removed next <br /> >week." The six trees that are <br /> >going to have their tops cut off will not view this as a temporary <br /> > measure. <br /> >As members of the Hendricks Park Tree Committee, we have argued for six <br /> > months that these trees <br /> >are being prematurely subjected to the chain saws of another City of <br /> >Eugene "Oops." We are not <br /> >opposed to cutting trees that are hazardous to people in the park or our <br /> >neighbors. We are opposed <br /> >to cutting trees when there is a strong possibility that their removal <br /> > will expose the remaining tress to <br /> >an even greater danger of wind throw. Trees in a forest have group <br /> >resistance to wind forces and the <br /> >trees in question are in a direct wind channel up Summit Blvd. <br /> >The circumstances that brought several trees down in the last two years, <br /> Page 2 <br />