From Save Ridgewood Reservoir:
When the Brooklyn and Queens communities surrounding Highland Park were told that Phase 1 of the Ridgewood Reservoir project was going to proceed, they were happy, because new paths, handicapped access and better lighting were sorely needed. Everyone was assured that existing trees would not be harmed during construction, with oversight and protection provided so that they suffered minimal impact. However, that is not what is happening and this is just one more example of how the city agency tasked with being the stewards of our open spaces has failed us, either through apathy, ignorance or corruption.
The large 150-year old Planetrees that line Vermont Place at the edge of the Ridgewood Reservoir have had their wide spreading root systems compacted and then buried in 5-8 feet of fill and soils at the approval of the Parks Capital Project Administrator and the Capital Arborist. The Forest Park administrator is aware of this problem but "will not interfere with Capital".
Clearly unenforced is the department's Tree and Landscape Protection Plan. Below is an excerpt of the NYC Parks and Recreation: Parks Tree Preservation Protocols (Sept 2009) that present the rules and protocol by which construction operations shall occur when within proximity to and under the canopy of large public trees. Numerous large and impressive veteran parkland London Planetrees that line Vermont Place at the reservoir provide important ecological, environmental and social benefits to park users and the neighboring communities. The London Planetrees within a construction site are candidates for the extraordinary preservation (and protection) protocols needed and so outlined by this document.
(Click link above to see document.)
Why does the Parks Department hate trees so much?
7 comments:
Good question
And why can't they even at least try to maintain them?
because PD employees are ignorant, uneducated and are in the job for about six months. look at who works at this agency. they hate trees and anything natural.
criminals, drug dealers, urban idiots
"Why does the Parks Department hate trees so much?"
They interfere with development!!!
Our NYC parks and greenways should be maintain for all to enjoy. Haven't been there in 15 years but will look to go back this year and see the changes. I rode my bike along the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway that starts on the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Queens and takes one past the Ridgewood Reservoir.
They don't care...........
Because every city agency sends the dregs to Queens. They know that the budget out here all goes to tweeding, they know that the locals will grumble but remain silent (or worse, couldn't care less because their next stop, Buffalo, is a step above their last, Bangaldore) and the electeds are too ignorant to expect things to be done right the first time.
We need Leslie Knope. Badly.
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