Park to remain closed near Gig Harbor City Hall till trees removed

Gig Harbor’s Grandview Forest Park next to City Hall remains unsafe and will stay closed to the public after the city terminated a contract with a private contractor slated to remove diseased trees.

The park closed in August after more than 20 trees were identified as being infected with laminated root rot, a disease that weakens trees and kills them from the roots up.

The park was scheduled to reopen around Sept. 20.

Evergreen Forestry Resources had the contract to remove the diseased trees, but the company did not submit a required performance and payment bond, Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm said. So the city terminated the agreement Sept. 21.

The majority of trees have been removed from the park, but four remain. The trails are unsafe for people to use, Langhelm said.

In a Sept. 20 police report, a worker with Evergreen reported continued issues with people walking through the closed park. Damage to an excavator also was reported.

A new contractor is expected to be on board by December or January. The park at 3448 Grandview St. will remain closed until all of the trees are removed.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Park to remain closed near Gig Harbor City Hall till trees removed."