City of Coeur d'Alene news release:

A bicycle that continuously reappears in a London Planetree at City Park was again removed by a tree service this week, and the City wants the community to know it will continue to have it removed.

Shawn Bennett, owner of Grace Tree Service heard about the City having to repeatedly remove the bike out of the tree, and contacted the Parks & Recreation Department. He offered to send one of his climbers up to take the bike out of the crown of the tree for free.

The City is appreciative of the amazing work of Grace Tree Service, but is disappointed that it is even necessary, said Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor.

“The people doing this think it’s a harmless prank, but having a bike up in a tree is a threat to public safety and potentially damaging to this tree,” Taylor said. “What is occurring is inappropriate, disrespectful to the rest of the community who all own this park together and, frankly, against the law. We wish it would stop. Because we know the bike is there, we have a duty to remove it or we risk liability should something occur to a visitor in the park.”

Taylor reiterated that the bike will be removed every time it is placed in the tree.

On Wednesday, August 3, Devon Braithwaite, Grace Tree Service General Manager and a Certified Arborist, scaled the tree outfitted in complete safety gear and lowered the bike using ropes. The bicycle, an older style Savannah Huffy will be turned in to the Police Department.