For Franklin Square to be saved, much of it has to be destroyed, and 63 trees are going down with it. D.C. advocated for a 21st-century version of the park as early as 2013, gaining approval from Congress in 2018 to partner with the Park Service to finish the project. Park Service spokeswoman Katie Liming said 63 trees will be removed — 29 because of poor health, 27 to allow for restoration and seven for storm-water management. The Park Service will plant 119 trees in the square, with the canopy covering 63 percent of the park. “Franklin Park is nearly 100 years old in its current iteration and exhibits all of the challenging characteristics of a well-used, well-loved park,” Perry said in a statement.

Source: Washington Post August 08, 2020 11:07 UTC