Tree removal part of North Common facelift in Mansfield

As part of a planned overhaul to the North Common in Mansfield, a 30-foot maple and some pine trees were recently chopped down to make way for improvements to the park.

We have a master plan for that area, Highway Department of Public Works Director Lee Azinheira said.

The trees came down in mid-December after a public hearing held Nov. 5, inviting residents to voice their concerns about the tree removal.

Azinheria said the project was done in accordance with the states Shade Public Tree Act.

If we take down a (public) tree and there are people who take exception, we then bring it to the selectmen, he said.

A few people attended the Nov. 5 meeting, and their concerns were answered, Azinheira said.

We did need to remove the trees but will be adding more trees, he said. We will be strategically adding trees later this year.

One reason the trees came down was because the Mansfield Electric Department is adding a new underground duct that would have run across one of the trees, Azinheira said.

Updated walkways and the installation of a new 80-foot flagpole also contributed to tree removal.

Azinheira said the American flag, which used to fly atop the previous flagpole, suddenly snapped off. The pole itself was rusty and to repair the flagpole and re-hang the flag would have required a crane to weld things back together.

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Tree removal part of North Common facelift in Mansfield