Why are there stumps where there used to be trees? The city removed three large Norway maple trees at Municipal Park because they had become weak enough that officials were worried branches would fall and hurt people, city forester Brian Jorgenson said. In late August, Jorgenson said, a branch from one of the trees fell near a woman and her child.

What made the trees unhealthy? Not clear. Disease, weather or something else is causing Norway maples around Boise to suffer, Jorgenson said. They’re becoming weak around 50 years old, which is typically normal adulthood for the species. “Maples in general are just not real well cut-out for our climate,” he said.

Does that mean Boise is going to cut down more maples? Probably. Jorgenson said Norway maple is one of the most common tree species in Boise’s parks and other public places.

Does the city replace old trees with new ones? Last year, Jorgenson said, the city removed at least 100 trees and replaced them with about twice that many. At Municipal Park, workers planted two oaks and one elm. “Each of these trees will grow to be bigger than the trees we removed,” Jorgenson said.