Uprooted tree closes Munchkin park
Published on November 9th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Police have closed Munchkin Park, the children's playground behind Town Hall, because trouble is literally looming over the park, in the form of a giant pine tree.
High winds last Thursday, Nov. 4, uprooted the tree. Police closed the park and contacted Public Works. Town officials called Kevin Small, owner of the 14 Emerson Street property where the tree once stood and now leans — ominously over the playground.
The town wants Small to pay for removal of the tree.
"Last Friday he said he was going to take care of it this past weekend," Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said. "He hasn't and now I have to track him down again."
According to another town official, Small said that the town should remove the tree. Another tree on town property is propping up Small's tree. The uprooted pine, in Small's opinion, would fall onto town property if the town tree was not supporting it. Small concludes that the pine is the town's responsibility.
As of Monday the tree has not been touched, and the park remains closed. Police have put up yellow police tape around the perimeter; the department instructs parents to keep children away until the tree is removed.
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