Beloved willow tree at Finch Arboretum to be removed

SPOKANE, Wash. -- The beloved willow tree at Finch Arboretum that has acted as a playground and photo backdrop for years, must now be admired from a distance.

The tree, originally planted in 1947, was fenced off in April when it started to crack. Since then, it has almost split completely in two pieces.

Jaime Kemple, Summer Camp Director at Finch Arboretum, said the breakdown of the tree was just part of "Mother Nature's" plan.

"Eventually, what happens is, all of these trees get so heavy that they just start to break apart and that's what has happened here. So, this tree here, it didn't undergo any kind of catastrophic damage that caused this. This is part of its natural evolutionary design," said Kemple.

Now, the Parks Department is hoping to give the willow's remains a fresh start.

"We basically want the community to tell us what we should do with the area. Should it be an outdoor event space, outdoor classroom or nature-based playground with natural elements from the tree," said urban arborist, Katie Kosanke.

Kosanke said the tree has to be removed for safety reasons, but that stems from the willow can be replanted around the arboretum.

"How can we repurpose pieces of this wood so kids can still use that balance beam and play on the tree and interact with it?" said Kosanke.

The city is currently working on a survey to collect the community's ideas about the future of the tree and space.

Make sure to check back with 4 News Now to access the survey once it is complete.

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