THE SAGA OF ‘BIG RED’
BEFORE . . .
“BIG RED” as she stood for
102 YEARS
Assembled by Lu Loree
April 7, 2025
“BIG RED” in a snowstorm
At every step of this saga, My Edmonds News has been there to keep the community of Edmonds informed and to provide in-depth background information on ‘Big Red’.
In this first article, with writing and photos by Byron Wilkes, we learn the storied history of this magnificent tree.
THE BATTLE IS JOINED
On December 9, 2024, the City of Edmonds granted the Boardwalk Homeowners’ Association a permit to cut down ‘Big Red’. On December 30, Dennis Weaver, a 35-year resident of the Boardwalk Condominiums, filed a complaint in Snohomish Superior Court, asking the City to reverse its decision. My Edmonds News covered this part of the story in an article by Larry Vogel.
. . . DURING . . .
Friends of ‘Big Red’ were at ground zero early on Monday, March 31st., making a final protest to the taking down of this legacy tree. They managed to delay the start of the removal for several hours. Despite emotions running high, the protests remained peaceful. Ultimately, they could not stop the chainsaws, wood-chipper and crane from doing what they had come to do.
The ‘Peaceful Protests’ article and photos are by Larry Vogel.
The “‘Big Red’ is taken down” article was written by Teresa Wippel with photo by Larry Vogel.
Both are from My Edmonds News.
. . . AFTER
Even as ‘Big Red’ was being reduced to this, the Friends of Big Red were gathering before the City Council (Tuesday, April 1) to ask that the City pass a Tree Code in order to protect other historic, legacy trees from meeting a similar fate. My Edmonds News covered the Council meeting and publishjed this report the next day. (Article and photos by Teresa Wippel).
Monday night, April 7, a free-willed organized EVENT by Simone Bower made the point that the Friends of ‘Big Red’ were STILL HERE and that the ‘Big Red’ issue will NEVER GO AWAY!
Photos and video by ‘Friends of Big Red’
A Happy Ending
At the April 21 City Council Meeting, Council President Pro Tem Susan Paine offered her Interim Landmark Tree Protection Ordinance.
There was much positive discussion, and when the VOTE was called, it PASSED UNANIMOUSLY . . . 6/0!
The very public cutting down of ‘Big Red’ for no good reason other than the lack of a protective tree code, along with the COMMUNITY’S unwavering objection to the loss of ‘Big Red’, inspired the adoption of an Interim Landmark Tree Protection Ordinance, protecting the remaining stately trees of our Edmonds.
‘Big Red’ KNOWS!
In Memory of ‘Big Red’ . . .
