Dozens of Morro Bay residents have voiced strong opposition to the removal of 14 cypress trees, some believed to be 50 years old, from the grounds of Del Mar Elementary School. The trees were felled to accommodate the construction of two new preschool classrooms, a decision that has ignited a wave of protest from the community.
San Luis Coastal Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Ryan Pinkerton stated that the tree removal was necessitated by the need for a wider fire lane and improved accessibility pathways. These requirements, he explained, led to a revised building footprint that included a significant retaining wall.
However, community members gathered for a "grief and grievance" ceremony, lamenting the loss of the trees. Neighbors noted that the cypress trees provided essential habitat for owls and birds and acted as a natural windbreak for nearby homes. They also held significance for a community garden and a church located behind the school.
"Trees are significant to Morro Bay residents," said resident Betty Winholtz. "I mean we’re a bird city where [would] the birds live? They live in the trees."
The sentiment was echoed by another resident, Michelle Howard-Leicester, who expressed dismay that such an event could occur in a city recognized as a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation for over two decades. Maintaining this designation requires adherence to specific urban forestry standards, including rules protecting public trees.
Pinkerton confirmed that the school district had secured the necessary permit for the tree removals. As part of an agreement, the district committed to planting 30 new trees on another section of the campus, doubling the number of trees removed. He also indicated that concerns had been raised about the potential safety hazard posed by decay within the existing trees, which he described as a risk to both children and the new facilities.
"In this case again it’s not that we wanted to cut down trees, we would’ve left them but it really was a safety hazard both for kids and the new buildings that are going to be put in those areas," Pinkerton told KSBY.
