Forty-Four hazardous trees to be removed along Burke-Gilman Trail, starting Tuesday

Burke-Gilman Trail detour in Kenmore on Tuesday, Oct. 13

Crews are planning to remove a large cottonwood tree near the Burke-Gilman Trail’s intersection with 61st Ave. NE on Tuesday, Oct. 13, requiring a short detour through Log Boom Park, which is adjacent to the trail and work zone.

Flaggers will be on site to direct trail traffic around the construction site and through the park.

In follow-up to damage caused by the August 2015 windstorm, arborists from the City of Lake Forest Park and King County have determined that 44 Lombardy poplar trees along the Burke-Gilman trail suffer from root disease and other defects that make them prone to failure.

King County will remove the trees, located between 41st Avenue NE and Ballinger Way NE, sometime during October. To ensure the safety of trail users and motorists along Bothell Way NE, the trail will be closed during the tree removal, with detour routes to be posted by King County.

As compensation for their replacement, King County will pay into the City’s tree fund, and Lake Forest Park’s volunteer planting program will use the funds to plant new trees along the Burke-Gilman Trail over the next several months. 

If you have questions or concerns, contact the City’s land use urban forestry intern Jake Tracy at 206-957-2833.