A rather high-profile Ballard tree has been cut down over the weekend, which came as a surprise to the surrounding businesses, Ballard District Council member, Rob Mattson and even Seattle City arborist, Nolan Rundquist, who usually handles cases like this.

"Looks like a case of vandalism. I doubt that we can identify a responsible party," Rundquist said.

A little tree stood beside the brick monument on the plaza on the corner of NW Market St and Ballard Avenue but this morning, nothing but a bare shrub remained in its place.

Mattson said that the tree had been looking rather sickly for a while but that he was unaware that it had already been taken down.

Mary Wood, an employee at the plaza's neighboring business said she immediately noticed it was an act of vandalism.

"It looks like someone snapped it off partway up the trunk and left the debris lying on the sidewalk," she said.
"It was not cut with a saw or other tool, the tree was bent and broken off."

"I see people walk by here every day not noticing the tree when it was up, just enjoying the pleasant ambience of the area," Wood continued. "Now I see people stopping to look – because it is obviously a sad thing to see."