Downtown Independence will soon be getting a new look.

 

At this week's City Commission meeting, Director of Riverside Park and Zoo Scott Patton informed commissioners of a recent decision made by the Tree Board. The Board decided this month to replace the downtown trees with foliage that would be less likely to attract birds. Patton says this has been on ongoing issue for some time.

 

The Tree Board decided to swap out the old trees with new, slimmer trees that will be aesthetically pleasing to humans while less attractive to birds. Patton says this won't solve the problem, but it will make it better.

 

The new trees will be installed in three phases over the next three years, beginning at the intersection of Penn and Main.