Residents in the Russell Hills neighborhood near downtown Cary are upset over a proposal to remove dozens of trees from their community park.

The town of Cary has marked the trees for removal as part of a plan to restore the banks of a stream that flows through Dorothy Park. According to the town, Cary would replace the existing trees with new trees and shrubs.

But residents have questioned the need for the restoration project and, subsequently, the changing landscape.

They sought answers to many of their questions Tuesday evening during a public meeting at the park.

“They said a large majority of the trees are scheduled to be removed because the town is going to redo the park in an effort to control storm drainage and beautify the area,” said John Kaplan of 803 Griffis Street.

“We just want to make sure that what they’re doing really needs to be done,” he added. “The park is a big part of our neighborhood, and we just hope it can stay that way.”

Town engineers have said that the project is necessary to improve water quality and to minimize flooding in the area.

Council members on Tuesday assured worried residents that they are committed to finding solutions that will satisfy their concerns. If that doesn’t happen, they said, neither will the project.

“I just want to make it clear that what you see tonight is not set in stone,” Councilman Don Frantz said at the meeting. “This is not what is going to happen, it’s what could happen."