Eagle habitat may affect plans for Pioneer Park tree removal

America’s national bird may stump part of a tree-thinning project at Pioneer Park.

The Town of La Conner has been advised by an urban forestry services consultant that more than 40 trees in the park, a popular trail hiking and public events venue – including the annual Pioneer Picnic – have structural defects or are in decline, posing potential isolated hazards.

A large winter windstorm during the COVID-19 pandemic uprooted a handful of trees in the park, some of which crashed onto the roof of its historic sheltered community kitchen building. That windfall damage ran more than $30,000.

Thus,...