“I hate losing trees, of any sort, but I don’t think they were the right trees, in the right location.”
That’s Mayor Brett Todd, talking about removing two trees in town to repair a stretch of sidewalk.
The walkway runs along Edward Street, between King Street and Water Street.
Roots from three trees right next to the sidewalk are pushing through the interlocking bricks, making it impossible for people with wheelchairs to cross it.
Mayor Todd and the rest of Prescott’s council have been discussing removing the trees since September of 2020.
Since then, one of them was taken down after being damaged in a car crash, and at this week’s council meeting, the decision was made to get rid of the remaining two and re-lay the bricks.
Mayor Todd says repairing the sidewalk is important, to make sure wheelchair-bound people can get around Prescott effectively.
“Accessibility is a big factor here, and we’ve gotta have an accessible way from King to Waters,” he says.
“We all hate taking trees down, but in this case, I think it serves a greater purpose.”
New trees indigenous to our area will be planted at Centennial Park in town to replace the ones being taken down.
The MyPrescottNow.com newsroom reached out to Town of Prescott staff to learn when the repairs to the sidewalk will begin.