City of Austin crews cut three massive trees down to the ground at Zilker Park Thursday.

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KVUE's Quita Culpepper reports

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• Zilker Park trees to be cut down (06/28)
• Community efforts help save most Zilker Park trees (06/16)
• Non-profits announce effort to save Zilker trees (06/15)

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Workers early Thursday began cutting off limbs from a 90-year-old elm tree and two pecan trees that have shaded the Zilker Park playground and Barton Springs Pool for many years.

City officials say an arborist's report showed the trees were unhealthy and dying limbs could crash down, possibly injuring someone. In fact, since the area around the elm tree was closed off a few weeks ago, two large limbs did fall into the playground area.

Twenty-nine trees were originally recommended to be removed from the park, but the proposal sparked public outcry and a group formed to promise to serve as tree stewards.

In the end, the City of Austin parks director decided only three trees had to go.

"It's unfortunate, " said Troy Hautman, City of Austin Parks and Recreation spokesman. "We really hate to take these things out, but it really did pose a danger and a lot of folks agree with us, and we had some independent arborists give us that same information."

The trees may be gone but their memory will live on -- a world renowned woodcarver is planning to turn the wood from the trees into works of art. R.L. Blair's wood carvings will stay in the Barton Springs Pool area.

Some of the wood will also be used to make guitars and souvenirs.