A Brevard County neighborhood once known for its shaded streets is now lined with stumps after the county removed dozens of mature trees, saying their roots had made sidewalks unsafe and inaccessible.

Residents in the Hammock Trace neighborhood in Viera said they were upset to see the trees cut down and are worried about what the loss means for their community.

“The neighborhood looks terrible now,” resident Gary Colonna said.

Colonna said many people were drawn to Hammock Trace because of the large oak trees that lined the right-of-way easements in front of homes.

“So many people were attracted to this neighborhood just because of those trees,” he said.

Brevard County officials said 62 trees were removed throughout the neighborhood because root systems had buckled sidewalks over time, creating safety and accessibility concerns.

“Over the years, as those trees have matured, the root systems have started buckling some of the sidewalks,” said Don Walker, Brevard County’s government communications director.

Walker said the county did not make the decision lightly. He said officials worked with an arborist and explored other options, including giving the homeowners association an opportunity to take over liability for the trees.

County officials said the HOA declined.

“We don’t just arbitrarily go through neighborhoods and chop down trees,” Walker said. “Those sidewalks have to be safe for everybody.”

Colonna said he understands safety has to come first, but he is concerned about the lasting impact on the neighborhood and his home.

“The inside of our home, it used to be kept cooler,” he said. “You could feel the difference. You could feel the difference without our tree.”

County officials said crews are still cleaning up remaining stumps and debris in the neighborhood.

Sidewalk repair work is expected to begin next year, according to the county.