A Downtown holiday landmark that had appeared to be in its final season is getting another look.
Just before Thanksgiving, Duquesne Light announced that the 80-foot-tall Tree of Lights would be retired in early January after standing for 32 Christmases near the confluence in Point State Park. The electric utility, which owns the tree, cited a “mutual decision” with the park “to help preserve the historical grounds of Fort Duquesne.”
But after public outcry over that plan, company and park representatives will meet Monday to revisit the subject, Duquesne Light spokeswoman Hollie Geitner said.
The power company sought to have discussions “at the highest levels” following the community response, Ms. Geitner said. A 1-week-old online petition seeking to preserve the tree tradition showed more than 8,100 digital signatures by early Sunday afternoon.
People “are speaking up, and we hear them,” she said. The company hopes for “an opportunity to have our tree where it is, or in a similar location in that vicinity.”
“Ultimately, this gift to the city brings such hope, especially in a year like this,” she said.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which includes the park, is “re-engaging with Duquesne Light regarding the tree and [hopes] to have more information forthcoming on the tree’s status for 2021 — and beyond,” DCNR press secretary Terry Brady said in a statement.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn “and others are committed to seeing a tree on the park grounds,” he said. “Elaboration at this time is premature.”
Ms. Dunn and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto have been in touch about future options, too, Mr. Brady said.
Mr. Peduto would prefer to see the artificial tree “stay in the location where it is, just because it’s such a focal point for the city, and you really can see it from all points of the city — north, south, east, west,” Peduto spokeswoman Molly Onufer said.
Earlier, park management had told Duquesne Light that it didn’t want the tree at the confluence anymore but that “they were OK with moving it to the other side of the park,” closer to Gateway Center, Ms. Geitner said.
“That alternative just wasn’t viable for us,” she said, adding that such a relocation would have obscured the tree’s visibility.
Mr. Brady, in written remarks, said the tree’s annual construction and deconstruction “have been a resource and infrastructure concern” since the park’s renovated fountain at the confluence was switched on in 2013.
“However, we did not tell [Duquesne Light] that this needs to be the last year,” he said. Nor “did we issue an ultimatum that if they did not move to the city side that they would need to cease.”
Pete Linko, 25, of Crafton, who started the online petition seeking to preserve the tree, called the tradition more than a symbol. It holds historical value for the community, he said.
“It’s so important that folks who are going through some difficult times continue to see this light,” Mr. Linko said. “It’s more than just a tree of lights. It’s a symbol of the resilience of Pittsburgh.”
Adam Smeltz: asmeltz@post-gazette.com and on Twitter @asmeltz
First Published: December 20, 2020, 9:39 p.m.