Hotel development fells park's trees
- Source: Global Times
- [08:36 April 13 2011]
- Comments
Hotel construction is underway in a Shijingshan park. Photo: Yang Jie/GT
By Yang Jie
Residents' complaints could not save a Shijingshan park's trees from being removed for hotel construction.
"It's possible that more space will be occupied and we'll finally be forced out in the near future," said an elderly park exerciser surnamed Yang.
Located 300 meters from the Bajiao Amusement Park Station on subway Line 1, Songlin (pine forest) Park is an ideal site for area exercisers.
A 10-meter-deep pit is fenced off at the east end of the park, and Yang said a large number of mainly pine trees have been ripped out since development started over a year ago.
The trees were planted by Shougang steel mill workers in the 1960s, according to the forestry and greening bureau of Shijingshan district.
Residents have complained to authorities and also turned to the media for support, but construction persists.
A forestry bureau official admitted that the project is suspected of illegally destroying trees, but said they had not taken action as the construction company claimed their work was "landscape innovation."
The bureau could not specify how many trees had been removed, according to the Beijing Daily.
"The government should prioritize public interests instead of immediate interests," said a former Shougang worker. "It's really hard to find a natural spot like this in this city."
