Photo: Madison Rogers/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A successful effort to save a century old scarlet oak tree is being celebrated in a Jamaica Plain neighborhood.
About six months ago a neighbor named Ken Polk saw a tree removal company come to remove the towering tree located off of Hyde Park Avenue at a site where new housing was being built.
He stopped the crew from doing the work while he and his neighbors were banding together to save the tree.
They wound up working with the developer and the city, as well as lawyers and State Representative Samantha Montano.
"It was a big mobilization," said resident Caterina Scaramelli. "The developer very kindly engaged in dialogue with us."
After some planning and a few meetings, the Boston Planning and Development Agency unanimously approved a development plan for that site that now includes keeping the majestic tree right where it's been for a hundred years.
"It's nice we were able to be proactive as a community to come together and save this," Ken said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
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