La Crosse considering removing 30-foot tree, downtown, that’s uprooting sidewalk

Some trees in downtown La Crosse are getting to be too big, especially the roots, and damaging the sidewalks and curbs. 

To avoid a situation where someone could trip, the city asked for permission to remove a tree outside The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor on Pearl Street, downtown. 

Dani Peterslie at the Pearl said folks on the street don’t always pay attention.

“We have a lot of kids, we have pregnant moms that come in,” she said. “We’ve got strollers and walkers and people who are rollerblading by as someone’s walking by.”

One pedestrian fell and hurt his head recently when walking near that tree on Pearl Street.

Property owner T.J. Peterslie said he didn’t expect the tree to grow so much, when it was planted as part of a downtown beautification project. Now, however, it’s about 30 feet tall, with roots probably extending 30 feet underground.

Forestry specialist Dan Trussoni from the park department said cutting down the tree won’t solve the problem, unless the roots beneath the street are also removed. 

A possible solution could be brought to the park board in time for its June meeting.