The possibilities are painful to imagine

When trees become a problem

Compared to the rest of the city, the sidewalks along Warren Street are relatively free of tripping hazards.  This beauty, on the north side of the 300 block, is a rarity and arguably the worst of all the hazards found on busy Warren Street, if only because the hazard is ABOVE the sidewalk, rather than ON the sidewalk.  

The one-inch thick, heavy duty iron tree grate, meant to protect the tree and its roots, is exactly 3 inches above the walking surface, and has been for quite some time.  It sticks its "I want to send you to the hospital or morgue" hazard into the middle of the 6-foot-wide sidewalk.  Can't you just see a pedestrian unknowingly walking their right foot under the grate and how badly mangled they would be immediately after their next step?  A ruined-for-life foot and/or ankle would likely just be the beginning of that person's troubles.

I can only assume that City Hall would say that this obscene and long-time tripping hazard is the responsibility of the property owner - that the City of Hudson can do nothing about it because the tree, the grate and the sidewalk are not city property.  Of course, since the hazard has been there for years, we can only assume that City Hall has never actually reached out to the property owner. But then you notice that the city's parking meter is right there practically touching the grate at the curb, and that any drivers having to use the meter have no choice but to walk and stand aside, on, or between the raised grates (the curb side portion of the grate is raised as well).  No one can stand directly in front of the meter without actually placing their left foot on or between the raised grates. Yet, still, the city doesn't care.  Not their problem.

One wonders what, if anything, Hudson City Hall would do if someone tripped over the grate and the results were serious enough that the local newspaper ran a story on it.  Would Mayor Johnson send condolences to the victim's family?   Cut down the tree?  Beg not to be sued?  Act as if nothing happened?

I considered taking a picture of the tree grate tripping hazard at night, but then I figured that readers wouldn't be able to see it very well.