In late fall 2022, Roslindale resident Kevin Schofield was enjoying a bike ride along the road that links the VFW Parkway to the former West Roxbury High School/Educational Complex, when he noticed the trees. Schofield is a self-described “tree hugger” who lives near the Arnold Arboretum. He knows trees well. He was stunned to recognize many Dawn Redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) on each side of the road.

Once thought extinct and known only from fossils, a lone Dawn Redwood was discovered in 1941 in a remote Chinese village. Researchers found a grove in another isolated valley a few years later. In 1948, Harvard University researchers acquired seeds and planted some at the Arnold Arboretum, where the trees remain carefully maintained.

Schofield immediately recognized the trees in West Roxbury. “I'm looking at one... and then, hey, look, there's another one 20 feet down … they're beautiful, summer or winter. These could grow 100-125 feet. They’re everywhere. They planted them on purpose.”

But many of the Dawn Redwoods Schofield saw on the Boston Public Schools (BPS) property were stressed. “So, I'm freaking out because I'm saying, ‘look at this!’ and I look at some of the tops of them, and the vines, if they grab onto a branch up there, they'll take the whole side of the tree down. The vines are killing the trees.”

Schofield struggled to find out what city department maintained the trees and property. “I start calling 311, and they call Parks and Recreation, and they call all these people. Well, some say, ‘that's not our property … It has nothing to do with us.’”

For four months, he did not give up, even calling elected officials. “I found out that the school folks have their own tree guys. Who would have thought that?”

Schofield spoke to three different people at BPS to no avail. Months later he saw that the area had been cleaned up “They cut all the vines. I wrote a letter saying thank you. I don't know who it is that I'm supposed to thank, but thanks for saving these trees.”

Schofield hoped the trees would receive ongoing maintenance. Instead, over the next few years, he watched vines return and other signs of neglect emerge. By spring 2026, vines had again overtaken many of the Dawn Redwoods. Several had died after snowmelt was dumped on them, others had deteriorated, and few appeared healthy. When his inquiries to BPS and others went unanswered, he contacted The Bulletin.

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The Bulletin was met with similar delays and evasiveness while trying to determine whether BPS or another city department was responsible for maintaining the Dawn Redwoods. From June 16 to Aug. 4, The Bulletin contacted BPS, Public Facilities Management, Urban Forestry, and the Parks Department by phone and email. Some inquiries, including emails to specific individuals, went unanswered. Others promised a follow-up that never came; calls were transferred to another department, or it was stated that a communications representative had to handle any request from the press.

During an unscheduled visit to the Mayor’s Office on July 16, an associate press secretary offered to help identify the department responsible for tree maintenance. On Aug. 4, the Forestry Department told The Bulletin that the Parks Department was responsible for the Dawn Redwoods in West Roxbury, but an email to the designated contact went unanswered. On Aug. 12, the associate press secretary from the mayor’s office called and said a response would be forthcoming. Later that day, The Bulletin received the following official statement from the BPS Communications Office:

“Boston Public Schools regularly maintains the grounds at the former West Roxbury Education Complex, including routine landscape upkeep. Trees are pruned as needed when they encroach on the driveway to help ensure safe access to the property. Given the unique care requirements of the Dawn Redwood trees, BPS and the City are working in partnership to continue assessing the site and determine the most appropriate ongoing care and maintenance approach to preserve these trees over the long-term.”

The statement came from the same person who had advised The Bulletin by email on June 23 to contact the city arborist.

On Sept. 21, 2022, shortly before Schofield made his initial discovery in West Roxbury, Mayor Michelle Wu accepted 10 Dawn Redwood trees gifted by the Arboretum which were slated to be planted throughout Boston. She also announced that a new city Forestry Division had been created. One of its goals is to “Ensure that tree/trees canopy are actively cared for.” On October 27, 2022, Wu planted the first of the donated trees at the Richard J. Murphy Boston Public School in Dorchester. It is unclear where the remaining nine trees have been placed.