NEW ORLEANS — Two live oak trees that have been standing in New Orleans for at least 50 years were illegally cut down.
According to the New Orleans department of Parks and Parkways, a property owner in the 5300 block of St. Claude Avenue cut down the trees, which were actually on city property next to their own.
Parks and Parkways says someone called their department to report a tree possibly being illegally cut last Thursday. An officer went out, saw workers cutting the tree, and noticed another tree had recently been cut. Both trees, they say, were downed without proper documentation or notification.
"Really, very disturbing," said Ann Macdonald, the Director of Parks and Parkways. "One of the most egregious acts I've seen here at Parks and Parkways."
These two trees were about 50-to-60 years old. They're now in pieces in a dumpster on the property owner's lot.
"These trees survived Hurricane Katrina, they survived many things, Live Oaks are considered strong trees, they're important to storm water management, they have an important role in green infrastructure," Macdonald said.
The owner was fined and cited for this illegal act.
Eyewitness News tried reaching out multiple times to the property owner for comment, but couldn't get through.