The "Peace Tree" was cut down Monday by the Colorado Department of Transportation, but it may be headed for Estes Park or an Internet auction block.

Paul Sterling and his, "Peace Tree" www.thepeacetree.org

Paul Sterling said crews showed up about 9:30 a.m. and brought the 13-foot-tall tree to the ground. Sterling had perched on top of the tree all day Thursday, Friday and Sunday in hopes of preventing its demise.

"I'm very tired, but mostly I'm very disappointed," Sterling said.

Sterling had hired a chain saw artist last month to put a peace sign and the words "Peace Tree" on two sides of the tree. The tree stood near U.S. 34 and on Sterling's property in Big Thompson Canyon.

Sterling said he wanted the tree to remain standing to brighten up the canyon for motorists. But CDOT said Sterling did his work without proper authorization and that it could pose a traffic hazard.

"I really don't think a lot of workers who showed up wanted to cut it down," Sterling said. "But I think they were trapped by rules."

Sterling will ask the Estes Park Town Board tonight to adopt the tree for placement somewhere in town. If that fails, Sterling said, he wants to put it on the Internet auction site eBay.

He thinks the tree's message will attract buyers.

"It's hard to explain how excited people were by the tree," said Sterling, who put in eight hours a day sitting on its top. "People waved and smiled and beeped their horns.

"It was a great way to connect to them."

People can see photos of the Peace Tree by going to www.thepeacetree.org

© 2005 the Denver Post

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