BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. — Bradenton Beach officials are fighting back against a plan to remove Australian pine trees from Coquina Beach.

Manatee County wants to tear down Coquina Beach trees for parking lot

City says trees provide shade for beach visitors

Manatee County officials are working on constructing the new beach parking lot and say the trees need to go, however, that was not part of the original plan.

So when red X's appeared on the trees Tuesday, it caught the attention of the City of Bradenton Beach.

County officials say the trees are invasive — no one denies that — they have a shallow-root system which is bad for drainage, they drop leaves that kill native vegetation under the trees, and they take away areas where sea turtles can nest.

However, the city does not want to get ride of the trees because they provide ample shade, making the picnic area there the most popular and unique spot on the beach.

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie is urging the county board to drop plans to tear the trees out.

"They are such a great benefit to our environment, the air that they help to cleanse, the birds nesting in here, the animal life. And just as important if not more, the shade that they provide for all the visitors that come here. This is one of the main reasons that a lot of people come down to this end of the park is because of the shade," Chappie said.

The county has put it's plan to tear down the trees on hold temporarily while they work up alternate plans, including what kind of trees that could replace the Australian pines.