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Residents blame Park Board trees for sidewalk damage; committee seeks clarity on responsibility
Summary
Several homeowners said boulevard trees planted by the Park Board lifted sidewalk panels and that they should not have to pay for resulting repairs; staff said the city coordinates with the Minneapolis Park Board and that the Park Board Forestry Division is responsible for Minneapolis trees, but did not resolve who pays during the hearing.
Multiple speakers argued that tree roots from boulevard trees—planted or managed by the Park Board—caused sidewalk damage and that homeowners should not be assessed for those repairs. Byron Perkins, a former Public Works employee, said the Park Board planted trees in front of his house and asked why homeowners must pay when the city planted the trees. "The park board put 2 trees in front of my house... Why should us taxpayers... pay for damage that the city did?" he asked.
Don Elwood, director of Transportation Engineering & Design, acknowledged the tension between maintaining a tree canopy and pedestrian access and said Public Works coordinates with the Park Board on tree placement. "Globally, we do work with the park board on tree placement... The Park Board Forestry Division is responsible for all Minneapolis trees," Elwood said, and he told council members staff would follow up on specific Park Board responsibilities and opt-in rules. Council members asked staff to confirm whether homeowners have an opt-in/opt-out option for boulevard tree placement and to seek remedies when contractor work or tree selection lead to repeated repairs.
