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City of Seattle

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Mike McGinn, Mayor

NEWS ADVISORY

SUBJECT: Newly planted Arboretum trees vandalized; Parks and Recreation and University of Washington seek information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/4/2012  4:00:00 PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dewey Potter  (206) 684-7241

Newly planted Arboretum trees vandalized; Parks and Recreation and University of Washington seek information

Vandals have destroyed three Chilean wine palms, two monkey puzzle trees, and three Gunnera Tinctoria in the Washington Park Arboretum’s Gateway Pacific Connections – Gateway to Chile project.

The cost of restoring the site to its original condition is estimated to be about $43,000. The police incident report is 2012-134001; Seattle Parks and the University of Washington Botanic Gardens ask anyone with information about the crime to the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) East Burglary Unit at 206-684-4300. To add information to the incident report, please call the SPD non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.

Details of the damage:

• Three Chilean wine palms (Jubea chilensis), two monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria auracana) and three Gunnera tinctoria were vandalized. 
• 19 large fronds were cut from 3 Chilean wine palms.
• The top 10’ of one monkey puzzle was removed
• One limb was cut from the other monkey puzzle tree.
• 20 Gunnera stems were cut.
• Several ferns were cut in the Pinetum, Rhododendron Glen and Lookout Gazebo area.
• The damage appears to have been inflicted with a machete or hatchet.
• The damage is very similar to vandalism that took place in the Arboretum about a year ago.

The Gateway to Chile project is one element of Pacific Connections, a five-part project that carries out some of the direction in the 2001 Arboretum Master Plan: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/arboretum/arboplanindex.htm. Pacific Connections showcases the flora of five Pacific Rim regions: Chile, New Zealand, Australia, China, and southern Oregon/ northern California.

The project included restoration the overgrown Holmdahl Rockery and created an eye-catching display of colorful Chilean plant species. Funding for the project, which was completed in June 2010, came from the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy and fund raising efforts by the Arboretum Foundation.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation

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