Ax to Fall on Beloved Birmingham 'Climbing Tree'

Memories for too many Birmingham kids to count will tumble with a decision by the Birmingham City Commission Thursday.

The “climbing tree,” the old white pine that anchors Shain Park, is dying and city officials have decided to chop it down before someone gets hurt climbing it, The Observer & Eccentric reports.

The tree, located at the north end of the park near playground equipment, has canker disease and is in deep decline, City Forester Judd Hart said, likening the tree’s condition to cancer in humans.

“I’m really concerned about kids climbing a tree that’s falling,” he said.

The tree was a centerpiece of Birmingham’s Christmas celebration for many years, but in 2012, officials made the decision to decorate an artificial tree.

"It is very difficult to achieve the ‘wow’ factor for the tree lighting ceremony,” Department of Public Services Director Lauren Wood told the City Commission at the time a $30,000 artificial tree was approved.

The City Commission also agreed to remove a 30-foot Norway maple tree in the northeast corner of the park near the playground because it is compeltely dead.

City officials tried to save both trees several years ago when the park was redesigned. The climbing tree was always an integral part of the park’s design and officials discussed Thursday if there was a way to extend its life a year or perhaps two, but decided the liability was too great because kids would still climb it.

TELL US: What’s your favorite memory of “the climbing tree”? Tell us below in the comments.