To the editor:

I have a question as to why Lee County has permitted volunteers to plant 400 trees along Veterans Parkway. These trees were planted between Country Club Boulevard and Santa Barbara Boulevard on the south side of the Parkway. There was no reason for this as there was no water problem or other problems.

The Lee County Department of Transportation will now be unable to mow this area, creating a major eyesore when the grass and weeds take over. We already have a major eyesore problems at the corners of Country Club Boulevard and Academy Boulevard on the north side of the parkway.

Why cause more problems?

Over the course of the last month we contacted the Landscape Dept. for Lee County, our City Council member in the Cape and the Lee County commissioners’ office. Not one person or agency got back with us regarding our concern. In the meantime it appears more trees have been planted.

These plantings are creating a possible fire hazard and a trash and sanitary problem. In addition, the Cape looks like it is being neglected.

Tom Zalesky

Cape Coral

Editor’s note: In response to a Breeze query, Lee County has provided the following answers to the questions raised: Lee County DOT is in frequent communication with volunteers who plant along Veterans Parkway and plantings are selected to match conditions (wet, dry, etc.) at specific locations. Plantings are mulched as is appropriate and do not inhibit maintenance with the berms and right-of-way maintained to county standards.