We, the citizens and visitors of the Westlake area of Middletown, Connecticut, petition the city not to remove the trees lining Westlake Drive. We have concerns about the tree removal project by the City of Middletown. Removing these mature trees will compromise the character and beauty of our street. These trees are not a threat to our safety and provide many environmental benefits for our community. If the trees are removed, the area will look stark and empty and, as residents of the street, we ask that you do not take away the natural beauty of the area that we reside in. If all of the trees are removed and new ones are replanted, the replanted trees will never grow to abundance in our lifetimes. We ask that the City explore ways to safeguard our existing trees in order to promote their health and longevity.