Presto! Trees
People who squawk about the lack of shade in City Plaza should be patient. Trees grow surprisingly fast.
Here’s proof. About six years ago, I took this photo of Bidwell Perk while it was being built. You’ll recall that it used to be in the building more or less across the street on the southeast corner of Mangrove and E. First avenues.
I like to take photos of construction projects. Recently, when I was looking over my collection, I was amazed at how Bidwell Perk had become surrounded by trees and other vegetation in such a short time.
So I went back to the same spot, on the south side of First, and took a photo of how it looks today.
I know the old elms at City Plaza were special and historically important, but when it came to the shade they provided, they were too much of a good thing. The elms made the plaza look like a piece of Bidwell Park instead of a plaza. I understand that the current crop of trees will provide shade without becoming as huge as the elms. That will be a good thing.
I’ve got to go out and shoot photos at City Plaza now, so that 10 years from now I will be able to illustrate how shady it has become in a short time.