After being extensively damaged by recent storms, one of the oldest and mightiest trees in Hastings’ Tyden Park is being transformed.  

 

Hastings City Manager Jerry Czarnecki told WBCH the huge Cottonwood tree has been enjoyed for decades and used as a photo background by area families and visitors, but it needed to come down for safety reasons.

 

When Hometown Tree Service removed the canopy of the tree and the massive trunk was still standing at a height of around 30 feet, they contacted Jerald Miller, a chainsaw artist who grew up in Hastings. An impromptu meeting of the minds took place to come up with a creative idea to save part of the tree. 

 

Miller is carving a tunnel through the trunk of the gigantic Cottonwood that will be large enough to walk through.  Miller, who lives with his family in Battle Creek, has previously done projects on trees at Leila Arboretum. Some of Jerald Miller’s creations can be viewed on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillerChainsawArt/