Vancouver Park Board crews cut down 70 trees in Queen Elizabeth Park to restore views of the downdown core and the North Shore mountains. (CBC)

Visitors at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver expressed different views about the removal of 70 trees by park board crews on Thursday morning.

The Vancouver Park Board approved a plan earlier this month to restore the views of the downtown core and North Shore mountains by chopping down the trees.

Queen Elizabeth Park is the second-most-visited park and the highest point in the city at 153 metres above sea level.

Three logging crews and three felling crews were deployed shortly after 7 a.m. to clear the trees, said Alex Downne, a supervisor at the park.

"Most of the trees are down. Of course, there's quite a bit of cleanup to do. It'll probably take another week," he said.

Teresa Wactawic says she doesn't understand why people would rather see highrises than trees. (CBC)

For every tree that was cut down the park board will plant two trees of lower-growing species so the views will not be blocked again.

Some who wanted to preserve the trees said they can't see how killing trees can create beauty.

"[It's a] senseless, violent act.… I'm sure the trees are crying," said Teresa Wactawic, who opposed cutting the trees and who was at the park Thursday.

"I have always thought the view was perfect so, for me, to go up there and take a look and say, 'Oh, I see highrises now. Isn't that amazing?' — that's not what I liked about the view. I was glad I could get away from it."

But Nick Despotakis, a Vancouver resident whose family used to go to the park to see the view, said he was glad the trees were gone and he can renew the tradition with his two young sons.

"It's the first time my children are actually seeing the view from here.… It's fantastic. I think it's the way to go," he said.