Three old-school wall-mounted phones have inexplicably been hung on a pine tree in St. Paul’s Como Regional Park, just west of the lake of the same name.

The neighborhood Facebook page is buzzing about the phones, which were installed at least several feet above eye level at a height that would require either a sturdy extended ladder or impressive climbing skills.

Two phones appear to be red touch-tone models. The highest phone appears to be a silvery-gray or blue. It’s unclear whether the phone has a dial or touch pad. The festooned tree sits among a stand of pines in a well-trod walking route on Estabrook Drive.

Deepening the mystery is a well-crafted wooden homemade sign that reads “Estabrook Drive” and depicts the silhouette of a pine tree.

No one seems to know why or how the phones were put on the tree and what message the artist/vandal is trying to convey. The area has been a popular spot for revelers and squatters. While curious, telephones aren’t at the top of the list of unusual and unsanitary detritus that has been left behind by users.

Officially, St. Paul Parks and Recreation director Mike Hahm said, “We are not currently aware of approval being given for placement of these items in public trees at Como Regional Park.”

City policy dictates that anything fixed to a publicly owned tree in St. Paul must have written approval from Hahm’s department.

Speculation on the neighborhood Facebook page ranged from bemused to philosophical to somewhat peeved.

Michael Kleber-Diggs wrote, “Is it about man’s inhumanity to man?” Later, he mused, “Is it about the impact of the digital age on the quality and intimacy of human interaction?”

Jenna Evanessi said, “It’s a phone tree (maybe )!”

Marge McPartlin speculated it was just “frisky kids,” nothing more meaningful.

Shannon Freeman said, “Who knows. But the tree-hugger in me hopes they didn’t use staples or nails to install it.”

Rebecca Wooden said she’s “not crazy about people defacing public property no matter how ‘cute.’ … Now a parks employee has to go up there and to take it down — soon, I hope.”

That appears to be the likely outcome. A parks spokesman said the natural resources and forestry experts would take a look and most likely remove the phones.

Twitter: @rochelleolson