USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

UPDATE: Mayor David Briley announced on Twitter Saturday afternoon that the cherry trees slated to be cut down will instead be removed intact and relocated.

A plan to remove 21 cherry trees in downtown Nashville as part of the city's preparations for the NFL draft has led to widespread public outcry.

The city plans to remove the trees to make way for an enormous stage at lower Broadway and First Avenue, one of the centerpieces of the draft event set for April 25-27.

The news has outraged arboreal advocates and others who say the city shouldn't sacrifice its natural resources for an event lasting only a few days.

An online petition at Change.org asking Mayor David Briley and the Metro Council to stop the removal had received more than 15,000 signatures as of early Saturday afternoon.

Here's a look at some of the reaction on social media:

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