Video: Cedar trees to be cut at popular Seattle park

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SEATTLE - A group of towering cedar trees that has welcomed visitors to the Japanese Gardens at Seattle's Arboretum for decades is now gone. 

Seattle Parks Department workers began early Monday morning chopping five 20-30-year-old cedars down as part of an improvement and expansion plan for the world famous gardens.  But not everyone appreciates this type of progress.

The world class gardens have long been a favorite, but short on amenities, with only a gateway and small ticket booth to greet visitors.  The city plans to expand the garden by adding a meeting room and public restrooms. To do that they needed to cut down the trees, leaving some to protest the action. 

"This is devestating i just can't believe they are cutting down these healthy trees," said Jer Gallagher, garden visitor. "It just seems like its bad planning.  You can keep these trees and build the facilities on the other side."

The Seattle Parks Department held two public meetings before deciding to remove the trees.  Department officials point out while these cedars may be gone, other trees will be going up. 

"We've already transplanted four trees which are basically specimen trees and we're planting 13 new trees in the area as well," said Kevin Stoops, planning director for the Seattle Parks Department. 

The cedar trees won't be leaving the area.  The Parks Department plans on using the lumber to construct the new buildings.

The Japanese Gardens are expected to be open during the construction, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.