Six dead trees next to the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC) are being cut down this week.
Today, Oct. 3, the city said the trees along Mary Hill Road are being chopped on the downtown campus because they're deemed a "high risk to people and property."
The five oaks and a London Plane tree will be replaced with 6 m tall specimen trees.
Traffic in the area is narrowed to avoid the tree cutting while parking along the street is temporarily removed.
According to an arborist report, the trees likely died due to stress and root-zone loading after the $132-million civic facility went up in 2021.
It's expected that the wood from the downed trees will be repurposed throughout the 205,000 sq. ft. centre.
"The city regularly monitors the health of trees on public property and tracks hazard trees that require removal," city staff wrote in a news release.
"Whenever possible, the city looks to maintain trees rather than remove them. In cases of declining or dead trees, removal is necessary for public safety."
It's the not first time the municipality has axed trees on the recreation hub site, which fronts Wilson Avenue.
In 2018, it cut 122 of 146 trees on the grounds to make way for the centre construction.
