Hundreds of Trees in Boynton Beach Community to be Cut Down

PALM BEACH COUNTY-Arborists will begin cutting down more than 300 Oak Trees in the Lake Ridge Greens Community near Boynton Beach on Monday. Some neighbors support the slaughter of the trees others are adamantly against it.

"The idea of taking down a living tree is repulsive," said William Knobler, a resident who lives in the community.

But for resident Elaine Douglas cutting down the trees means a much safer yard.  That's because she's recovering after fracturing both of her elbows. She tripped over the roots of the Oak Tree in her front yard in April.

"I wouldn't want anyone to have an accident like mine," said Douglas.

Lake Ridge Greens Home Owners Association made the decision to cut down the trees a couple months ago. They say the tree roots caused sidewalks and driveways to buckle. The HOA president Lenny Pravda says several residents have been injured after tripping on the roots.

Lenny says it's not save for the hundreds of senior who live in the community.  Even so, many neighbors don't want to loose their tree lined streets.

The HOA says they've looked into other alternatives and even brought in four arborists to examine the community for the best solution.

"Most opinions seem to think if we did anything other than remove the trees it would be a band aid and everything would happen again in a short amount of time," said Pravda.

But many residents just aren't buying it-they want their Oak Tree's to stay.

The Palm Beach County Planning Department says the HOA is in compliance with code.

After the trees come down, Lenny says, the stumps will be chipped away then covered with bark.