A divided city council on Thursday approved a controversial construction pact for Brackenridge Park that calls for the removal of 48 trees. The first phase of a 2017 bond project for one of San Antonio’s most beloved green spaces, the project has drawn repeated criticism from environmentalists and nearby residents, who argue that the trees’ proposed removal would harm wildlife and diminish enjoyment of the park. Although the city scaled back the tree removal from its original proposed number of 105 and delayed work to allow more public debate, critics argue staff deliberately tried to avoid public input.