THE GIVING TREES

Lake Highlands loves trees, even if the rest of the city doesn’t

BY ELISSA CHUDWIN

PHOTOS BY DANNY FULGENCIO

Lake Highlands hasn’t yet let concrete swallow the nature surrounding our homes and businesses.

Residents care so much about trees that they’ve memorialized them as artwork and fought off those destroying them with chainsaws. The man who sawed Lake Highlands Park’s Indian marker shaped tree was arrested after neighbors blockaded him until police arrived. If that sounds intense, may we remind you of the White Rock area resident who climbed a tree to prevent Oncor from cutting its branches.

Commercial and residential development threatens the health and sustainability of Dallas’ limited green space. The city’s tree ordinance requires developers to replace trees that have been uprooted because of construction or pay a reforestation fee, but companies often find loopholes to avoid following the regulations. An updated ordinance has been in the works since 2010, and it’s finally slated to appear on the City Council agenda this June.

Home additions and renovations also wreak havoc on trees’ root systems, unless proper precautions are taken. “The soil composition, materials stored, foot traffic will kill a tree three to five years after construction is complete,” says Scott Dahlberg, a Lake Highlands arborist.

Of course, you may not be the tree hugging type, and none of this may matter to you. But considering trees are essential to the ecosystem, the Lorax might be onto something.