Parks chops down Brooklyn tree

Park Slope residents were perplexed to find the top of a lush and soaring Norway maple on Sixth Avenue between President and Carroll Streets brutally chopped off this week. The remaining tree trunk will be removed soon.

Park Slope Is Abuzz About a Missing Maple

Indeed, the Department of Parks and Recreation said this was a planned action. “There are two trees between Carroll and President,” said Jama Adams, a spokeswoman. “These were inspected. They are mostly dead and had to be removed for safety reasons.”

But Mr. Reuland said the removed tree looked healthy. “The tree was not 50 percent dead,” he said. “It was not even 30 percent dead or 10 percent dead.” He sent pictures to City Room as evidence of the tree’s health.

Ms. Adams said that the tree was dead and that it was not a case of mistaken identity on the parks department’s part. “We are the ultimate tree huggers — and we protect every tree that there is to protect,” she said.