Maureen Sullivan
A tree cut down along Greenough Boulevard lies on the ground.
Trees along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown got a severe pruning or in some cases were cut down completely, a move that has upset residents and town officials alike.
Last week, residents noticed that the trees on the street that runs along the Charles River had been cut by crews. The trees stand on land owned by the state and overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Residents began contacting DCR officials, state representatives and Town Councilors to ask for the tree trimming to be halted.
While they are state owned, the DCR was supposed to alert the Watertown Conservation Commission and the town Tree Warden, Chris Hayward, to let them know about the plan, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon.
“They are supposed to do that. It hasn’t happened, and then they showed up and started pruning trees,” Magoon told the Town Council. “It is a serious concern and we will certainly follow up on that.”
Maureen Sullivan
Trees along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown had limbs cut off as part of unapproved pruning work.
Hayward contacted the DCR, and the work has been halted, Magoon said.
“He was beside himself that he had not been notified and the work had been done,” Magoon said. “He has put some calls to DCR. He will arrange a meeting with them where they will come to town and talk about how that happened.”
Resident Maureen Sullivan said the cutting took place in the area between the Cambridge-line and Arsenal Street.
“Although there is a temporary halt on the tree-cutting, I suspect the battle isn’t over,” Sullivan said.
She worries the same thing could happen on the rest of Greenough Boulevard, heading west toward North Beacon Street.