A downtown summer party turned scary Friday evening when a roughly 30-foot tree crashed down in the middle of a Lowertown block party at Mears Park, trapping a woman underneath just before 6:40 p.m. First responders quickly swarmed the scene, freeing her from the branches and rushing her to Regions Hospital. Emergency officials said she was conscious and breathing, and that she was listed in stable condition. The fall was described as sudden, and the crowd was briefly cleared while crews worked to cut and remove the tree.
How the Tree Fell
According to KSTP, the tree toppled without warning, pinning the woman beneath its limbs until emergency crews could reach her. Witnesses told the outlet they heard “multiple screams of ‘tree, tree,’” as people scrambled to get out of the way. One bystander, Susan Larson, told KSTP she believed the victim was “very, very lucky.” Authorities also told KSTP the woman was taken to Regions Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.
At the Block Party
The incident unfolded during a Downtown Block Party that had been promoted as part of Lowertown’s summer kickoff, drawing people into Mears Park for music and food. As Downtown St. Paul notes, the park routinely hosts evening events that bring sizable crowds into close proximity with the tree canopy that lines its walkways and lawn.
Park Trees and City Maintenance
The city’s Parks and Recreation forestry unit manages planting, pruning and tree removals across parks and boulevards, and it publishes guidance on threats such as emerald ash borer, according to the City of St. Paul. The official Mears Park facilities listing on the City of St. Paul site details park amenities and includes a park-security contact that responded after the tree fall.
Historical reporting by the Star Tribune shows that Twin Cities municipalities have already carried out large-scale public ash-tree removal programs in recent years, a reminder of the long-term pressures on the urban tree canopy.
Officials and Next Steps
Authorities have not yet released further details about what caused the tree to come down. Investigators are expected to review the site and the condition of the tree itself, KSTP reports. This story will be updated if the city or public-safety agencies provide additional information.
