It’s not often you’ll find a 32-foot Christmas tree at the center of suburban cul-de-sac. The story behind the annual placing of a tree is in a more than 50-year tradition along Chianti Court in Rancho Cordova.
Trish Tipton says her late grandfather James Reece started the tradition. At the time, he worked with the local fire department and Sacramento County officials to place a special holder in the center of the street.
Since then, five generations from the Reece family have taken part in helping to put up the Christmas tree. Every year for more than half a century, neighbors join during Christmas time in visiting a tree farm in the Sierra, cut it down, and bring it to their neighborhood.
“When they explained the tradition, I thought it was really cool because you know, you don’t have a lot of neighborhoods that have this comradery that they have here,” said Michael Weir, a homeowner along Chianti Court for 11 years.
However, a code enforcement officer recently notified residents there that the tree may have to be taken down for safety concerns.
Residents there took to their elected officials and the issue. Spokeswoman Maria Kniestedt with the City of Rancho Cordova says the issue was resolved within the evening and the residents will be allowed to keep the tree up.