SCENE FROM THE STREET

Who’s winning this battle?

This majestic oak tree was planted by the city at some untold age years ago, and as it grew to fill its tree pit, the gnarly roots, or ‘feet’ if you will, wrapped its ‘toes’ over the sidewalk edge. The city may have enlarged the tree pit at some point to provide more room for the roots, as evidenced by the newer joint in the concrete sidewalk. But then, indignity of indignities, we see fresher looking concrete has been filled in around the toes, instead of protecting the tree with a barrier and soil. Even in this relatively short time in the life of an oak tree, the tree is exerting its force and cracking open the concrete, not just in the tree pit, but also the curbing material (see the bulge). We get to admire this tree on Washington Place, and watch the scene to see who wins the battle. Text and photo by Brian J Pape, AIA.