San Lorenzo: PG&E cuts down dozens of trees at Duck Pond park

SAN LORENZO -- Randy Waage had heard PG&E was going to cut down some trees on the southwest side of the Duck Pond park, but the barren view afterward stunned him.

"It's pretty much decimated the area," the San Lorenzo resident said. "It really changes the landscape of the park."

The power company began removing dozens of trees at the park in February, part of a program to clear obstructions from its 6,750-miles of natural gas pipelines from Bakersfield to Eureka, said Tamar Sarkissian, Pacific Gas & Electric spokeswoman.

PG&E took out 69 mature eucalyptus, privet, bottlebrush and pine trees that were in its right of way along railroad tracks next to the park, formally called San Lorenzo Community Park.

The park district had no say in the trees being removed, said Larry Lepore, parks superintendent at the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. However, the district planned to remove the trees as part of a park upgrade plan, he said.

At the park district's request, PG&E also took out 35 trees that the district tagged in its park master plan and pruned some others.

San Lorenzo resident Michelle Clowser knew the trees would come out eventually, but she had not expected it so soon.

"I was very surprised after the fact; it looks like a different park."

PG&E's program -- Pipeline Pathways -- comes in the aftermath of the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.

"Since San Bruno, we have been taking great measures to ensure the safety of our pipeline system," Sarkissian said. In addition to clearing its gas transmission pipeline right of way, the utility is surveying for leaks, testing pipe strength, inspecting the lines with cameras and automating valves.

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San Lorenzo: PG&E cuts down dozens of trees at Duck Pond park