COMMUNITY ADVISORY
March 26, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer
(510) 747-4714
Fallen Tree in Washington Park Seriously Injures Alameda Man
Washington Park is safe and open to the public following assessment of nearby trees
On Friday, March 23, there was a tragic accident when a large pine tree in Washington Park fell and seriously injured an Alameda man while watching his daughter play softball.
On Saturday, March 24, the City posted the following update:
We want residents to know that the City is taking this very seriously to prevent future accidents. Our Recreation and Parks Department confirmed that arborists regularly assess park trees in Alameda, most recently in 2017. In addition, maintenance staff assess park trees on a daily basis. The tree that fell Friday had appeared to be healthy, but the wet soils from recent rains combined with being on a sloped area may have played a role. The fallen tree was removed right away, and today our workers removed a second tree in an abundance of caution and assessed the other trees on the hill. Because of this work, Washington Park is safe and open to the public.
This morning, a Maintenance Supervisor for the Alameda Recreation & Park Department (ARPD) assessed all of the trees on the slope at Washington Park with a tree contractor, and an arborist will be doing a further review tomorrow. An additional assessment of all park trees in Alameda will be completed over the coming weeks.
Our thoughts are with this Alameda father, as he begins his long road to recovery. We are thankful for our first responders who not only assisted those injured, but assisted with the needs of the families and children who witnessed this terrible accident. And we are thankful for the entire Alameda community, who always come together in times of need.
