Locals Upset Over Tree Removal For Space Shuttle
CSC President Jeffery Rudolph told the Board of Public works that the center has taken measures to cause the least amount of environmental damage. He said the route which was chosen would eliminate the least amount of trees.
From Los Angeles Airport to Exposition Park, 268 trees will be removed for the transportation of the 768-foot wide space ship.
"None of the trees eliminated will be heritage trees or native trees." said Rudolph
He said that the tree will be re-planted within 120 days of elimination.
Local citizens say that this action is not good enough and is ultimately detrimental to the environment. Resident Kevin Brown told the council that if NASA can land a rover on Mars, then there must be a way to move the shuttle without cutting down trees.
"Leimart Park is a national treasure," Brown said. "I'm all for the science, but there has to be a better way."
Pamela Austin, who lives in Crenshaw, said she appreciated the re-plantings and community improvements the Science Center plans to undertake, but she disagreed with Rudolph's characterization of the trees.
"They are heritage trees, some of them," she said. "They're our heritage."
The shuttle was scheduled to depart from Kennedy Space Center today en route to its new home at the California Science Center, but bad weather has forced a two-day delay. Officials expect the shuttle to arrive on Friday.
Will you be watching Endeavour's arrival? Tweet your photos to @atvn with your location and the hashtag #SpotTheShuttle!
768 feet wide....right. Where's the editor?