Howarth Park's leaning trees cut down

Crews removed trees Thursday that posed a threat after a slow-moving landslide tipped the trees at severe angles on the hillside along the access road to the lower parking lot at Howarth Park in Everett.

The city closed the road leading to the lower parking lot in January because of the slide, which left 80 huge alders hanging over the road. The alders were among about 300 trees being removed.

Howarth's beach area remains open, but the only public access to the beach is from the park's upper and middle parking lots.

The lower lot remains closed and more than half of the parking is located there. The city is trying to get the park re-opened for the busy summer season. Howarth Park is one of the few public places providing access to the beach in Everett.

Park rangers are also reminding people to refrain from parking in areas that are posted "no parking" or "tow-away zone." Drivers who decide to park in no-parking and tow-away zone areas will be ticketed for the violation.

The area will be re-planted with evergreen trees in the fall.