Parks Without Borders presenters have repeatedly described the north side of the park heavily used by residents as “underutilized", or "sparsely used.” This has caused outcry by residents at public hearings.
When thousands of people voted online for the Parks Without Borders funding from mid-November 2015 until the end of February 2016, NYC Parks promised to turn "hardscapes into greenscapes".
The year after the vote, Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver delivered a cement plaza in Fort Greene Park, dismissing opposition from residents.
A Parks Without Borders presenter said, "“There are some trees planted in the 70s that will need to be removed. They are Norway Maples. They are at the end of their lives. ..., not going to last very long anyway, ..., They are an invasive species and we will be taking the opportunity to remove them". -- statements by NYC Parks at public hearings.
Handout of NYC Parks Without Borders Summer Outreach Program at Fort Greene Park
Misinformation
Misinformation
"Invasive Species"
"Invasive Species"
It should be clarified what it means when Norway Maples are called Invasive. These trees have been long naturalized in the USA, and were popular for their quick and easy growing habits and for their shade. Now they are generally not recommended for these same reasons, meaning that they are aggressive and can out compete native trees. That could be a problem in a forest or a meadow but not an issue in a controlled environment like a park where the trees have not been an issue for the last 40-50 years.
It should be clarified what it means when Norway Maples are called Invasive. These trees have been long naturalized in the USA, and were popular for their quick and easy growing habits and for their shade. Now they are generally not recommended for these same reasons, meaning that they are aggressive and can out compete native trees. That could be a problem in a forest or a meadow but not an issue in a controlled environment like a park where the trees have not been an issue for the last 40-50 years.
Also, their dense shade and dense roots discourage herbaceous plants from growing around the tree. This is why they are not recommended for planting in a forest, where you would want to encourage a natural growth pattern. But in a controlled setting, like a city park or backyard, where maybe you might want a grove of trees and no undergrowth, they might be fine.
Also, their dense shade and dense roots discourage herbaceous plants from growing around the tree. This is why they are not recommended for planting in a forest, where you would want to encourage a natural growth pattern. But in a controlled setting, like a city park or backyard, where maybe you might want a grove of trees and no undergrowth, they might be fine.
In summary, Norway Maples are generally not planted anymore, but that does not mean that you should go out and remove a mature tree.
In summary, Norway Maples are generally not planted anymore, but that does not mean that you should go out and remove a mature tree.
In Conclusion
In Conclusion
The Parks Department misrepresented the health of the 58 mature trees marked for removal -- a total of 71 trees will be endangered, including an additional 13 due to extreme pruning and adjacent excavation under their Parks Without Borders redesign plan.
The Parks Department misrepresented the health of the 58 mature trees marked for removal -- a total of 71 trees will be endangered, including an additional 13 due to extreme pruning and adjacent excavation under their Parks Without Borders redesign plan.
There are 129 trees within the scope of work. NYC Parks plans to remove 58 trees -- only 9 for condition. The other 49 healthy shade trees will be removed for the plaza design. Many of the trees are 50-60 feet tall, providing shade to our neighbors.
There are 129 trees within the scope of work. NYC Parks plans to remove 58 trees -- only 9 for condition. The other 49 healthy shade trees will be removed for the plaza design. Many of the trees are 50-60 feet tall, providing shade to our neighbors.
NYC official report requested by FOIL says (1) only 9 trees out of the 58 will be removed for condition, and (2) less than half of the 58 trees are Norway Maples, a regulated species. Contrary to the official report, this slide from a NYC Parks presentation gives the misleading impression that many more trees are "at the end of their lives."
NYC official report requested by FOIL says (1) only 9 trees out of the 58 will be removed for condition, and (2) less than half of the 58 trees are Norway Maples, a regulated species. Contrary to the official report, this slide from a NYC Parks presentation gives the misleading impression that many more trees are "at the end of their lives."
What are the benefits of the large number of trees PWB plans to cut down at Fort Greene Park?
A large, healthy tree removes almost 70 times more air pollution each year than a small, newly planted tree.
A large, healthy tree removes almost 70 times more air pollution each year than a small, newly planted tree.
London planetrees remove more than 77 tons of air pollution each year, over one-quarter of all pollutant removal by NYC’s trees.
London planetrees remove more than 77 tons of air pollution each year, over one-quarter of all pollutant removal by NYC’s trees.
Each year 272 tons—the equivalent of 40 adult elephants—of air pollution are intercepted or absorbed by trees in NYC
Each year 272 tons—the equivalent of 40 adult elephants—of air pollution are intercepted or absorbed by trees in NYC
Average electricity and natural gas cost savings in NYC are $47 per street tree
Average electricity and natural gas cost savings in NYC are $47 per street tree
Each year 313 tons of air pollution are avoided because of energy savings resulting from reduced emissions
Each year 313 tons of air pollution are avoided because of energy savings resulting from reduced emissions
The average street tree in NYC intercepts 1,432 gallons of stormwater each year; all our street trees capture 890 million gallons per year
The average street tree in NYC intercepts 1,432 gallons of stormwater each year; all our street trees capture 890 million gallons per year
Downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods have worse air pollution rates, which is an environmental factor of asthma, compared to the city average. Child asthma rates are also higher.
Downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods have worse air pollution rates, which is an environmental factor of asthma, compared to the city average. Child asthma rates are also higher.
the amount of tree cover had a significant impact on the levels of nitrogen dioxide in an area and the respiratory health of the residents in that area.
the amount of tree cover had a significant impact on the levels of nitrogen dioxide in an area and the respiratory health of the residents in that area.
Specifically, the study concluded, because of the city's existing tree canopy:
Specifically, the study concluded, because of the city's existing tree canopy:
- Children age 4-12 avoided missing 7,380 school days due to asthma attacks.
- People of all ages avoided 54 asthma-related emergency room visits.
- There were 46 fewer hospital stays for people older than 65 because of respiratory illness.
- All together all those health benefits equaled $6.6 million in savings.
Walt Whitman and Fort Greene Park
Walt Whitman (1819-1892), the chief editor at the time of the Brooklyn Eagle and King’s County Democrat, rallied popular support for the project. Whitman appealed for a pleasant retreat for city dwellers, “a place of recreation… where, on hot summer evenings, and Sundays, they can spend a few grateful hours in the enjoyment of wholesome rest and fresh air.” (NYC Parks)
— by Carsten Glaeser, Ph.D, Glaeser Horticultural Consulting
— by Carsten Glaeser, Ph.D, Glaeser Horticultural Consulting
It is a great moment in history that Walt Whitman with his literary genius advocated during his time for greenery amid dense urban dwellings for improving quality of life and human health betterment.
It is a great moment in history that Walt Whitman with his literary genius advocated during his time for greenery amid dense urban dwellings for improving quality of life and human health betterment.
Yet taking place at the property that bears his name, the NYCHA "Walt Whitman Houses" dozens of invaluable and beneficial shade trees that populate the campus are experiencing a planned denuding effort by NYCHA construction activity and its engineers. It is not the blatant cutting and removal of large public shade trees as is proposed by NYC Parks for the adjacent Fort Greene Pk, but it is a deliberate tree-killing attempt unbeknown to those residents walking among them. The Whitman Houses complex with its open landscape and growing space clearly serves as a refugio for large trees as does public parks, that benefit the development for large trees and their canopy for the human and environmental services that trees deliver. Tree stakeholders, beneficiaries and urban greening advocates should be alarmed by what has transpired here.
Yet taking place at the property that bears his name, the NYCHA "Walt Whitman Houses" dozens of invaluable and beneficial shade trees that populate the campus are experiencing a planned denuding effort by NYCHA construction activity and its engineers. It is not the blatant cutting and removal of large public shade trees as is proposed by NYC Parks for the adjacent Fort Greene Pk, but it is a deliberate tree-killing attempt unbeknown to those residents walking among them. The Whitman Houses complex with its open landscape and growing space clearly serves as a refugio for large trees as does public parks, that benefit the development for large trees and their canopy for the human and environmental services that trees deliver. Tree stakeholders, beneficiaries and urban greening advocates should be alarmed by what has transpired here.
The NYCHA capital construction project for months has staged construction operations, stored materials, repeatedly moved heavy equipment, performed open-cut trenching etc. all across unprotected trees and their sensitive, wide-spreading root systems. Absent tree-management solutions such as; pre-construction planning for tree preservation, the placement of effective ground protections and fencing, and over-sight, documentation and intervention by the NYCHA in-house Arborist for assuring delivery of acceptable tree care standards.
The NYCHA capital construction project for months has staged construction operations, stored materials, repeatedly moved heavy equipment, performed open-cut trenching etc. all across unprotected trees and their sensitive, wide-spreading root systems. Absent tree-management solutions such as; pre-construction planning for tree preservation, the placement of effective ground protections and fencing, and over-sight, documentation and intervention by the NYCHA in-house Arborist for assuring delivery of acceptable tree care standards.
So here's the learning moment. The outcome for the treed Whitman Houses and its residents is the declining health and death of many irreplaceable site trees anticipated in years after project completion. It is tree death not by cutting, but by a thousand slashes that could have been avoided had one voiced tree preservation concerns in the early stages of the project. Yet now the action needed implores prompt (not later), costly, tree-by-tree remediation measures to lessen these harms imposed- if that is even attainable from NYCHA.
So here's the learning moment. The outcome for the treed Whitman Houses and its residents is the declining health and death of many irreplaceable site trees anticipated in years after project completion. It is tree death not by cutting, but by a thousand slashes that could have been avoided had one voiced tree preservation concerns in the early stages of the project. Yet now the action needed implores prompt (not later), costly, tree-by-tree remediation measures to lessen these harms imposed- if that is even attainable from NYCHA.
Examples of ineffective protections for small and large NYCHA trees evident with trampled and severely compacted root populated soils, that has long-term health and stability consequences for those trees affected.
Examples of ineffective protections for small and large NYCHA trees evident with trampled and severely compacted root populated soils, that has long-term health and stability consequences for those trees affected.
The Parks Without Borders plan will level historic features and greenery of the park.
The Parks Without Borders plan will level historic features and greenery of the park.
The greenery intended by Olmsted & Vaux will be replaced by a cement plaza in the PWB proposal.
The greenery intended by Olmsted & Vaux will be replaced by a cement plaza in the PWB proposal.
Parks Without Borders presenters said that the plaza design proposal is in line with what Olmsted and Vaux intended at the northwest corner of Fort Greene Park.
— by Michael Gruen, President of the City Club
— by Michael Gruen, President of the City Club
The City Parks Department is planning to do some major work in the Park under its "Parks Without Borders" program. The general concept of the program is to remove fences and walls that create barriers between parks and their neighboring streets. They have selected eight projects under this rubric, one of which is Fort Greene Park. FGP actually has necessary retaining walls around most of the park because of the rather steep terrain. But at the north-west corner there is a low stone wall with fairly dense trees on both sides that does not block access so much as view into the park.
The City Parks Department is planning to do some major work in the Park under its "Parks Without Borders" program. The general concept of the program is to remove fences and walls that create barriers between parks and their neighboring streets. They have selected eight projects under this rubric, one of which is Fort Greene Park. FGP actually has necessary retaining walls around most of the park because of the rather steep terrain. But at the north-west corner there is a low stone wall with fairly dense trees on both sides that does not block access so much as view into the park.
The Parks Department wants to remove that wall and most of the trees, in large part, it appears, to provide a view into the Park so people outside can see the Prison Ship Martyrs' Memorial that stands at the top of the hill at the center of the Park. Other related work includes removing approximately 54 trees out of about 125 in order to open the view, a great deal of very necessary repair work on terrain and surfaces that have eroded, improvement of barbecue areas and tables, etc.
The Parks Department wants to remove that wall and most of the trees, in large part, it appears, to provide a view into the Park so people outside can see the Prison Ship Martyrs' Memorial that stands at the top of the hill at the center of the Park. Other related work includes removing approximately 54 trees out of about 125 in order to open the view, a great deal of very necessary repair work on terrain and surfaces that have eroded, improvement of barbecue areas and tables, etc.
Much of this (such as follows "a great deal" just above) is extremely necessary and advantageous for the community. However, much of it is unnecessarily environmentally damaging (particularly the tree removal) and very unsympathetic to the character of the Park. This takes a bit of historic explanation. The Park was begun around mid-19th century. Soon after, Olmsted and Vaux took over the design and created a very attractive bucolic array of winding paths up the hillside. Their plan included a relatively modest memorial to the Martyrs (prisoners taken by the British during the Revolution) and a pair of stairways up the northerly side of the hill to the monument. This created a mixture of styles -- bucolic and monumental -- but one they carried off very well by not exaggerating the monumental. In the early 20th century, McKim, Mead & White were engaged to redo the monument. They made it much more grandiose, turned the pair of stairways into a single stairway 100 feet wide, and created a very formal promenade leading toward the stairway. In my opinion, that disrupted the pleasant Omstead and Vaux fit of styles and turned it into a clash. However, over the following decades, there were gradual modifications, and much growth of trees, that tempered the clash. The styles are now made quite compatible because, in a bucolic Olmstedian manner, the approach to the monument is a bucolic experience. You see nothing of it from the street or as you enter the Park from the north-westerly corner. But as you walk further, you catch glimpses of stairs and memorial column. The experience becomes similar to walking along a hillside winding path and finding a new surprise at every turn. Gradually, the entire monument is revealed and it becomes breathtaking, something that will not happen if you see the whole view from the street and, if a tourist, can check that off your list and go on to Juniors or whatever to experience the next site without having even entered the Park.
Much of this (such as follows "a great deal" just above) is extremely necessary and advantageous for the community. However, much of it is unnecessarily environmentally damaging (particularly the tree removal) and very unsympathetic to the character of the Park. This takes a bit of historic explanation. The Park was begun around mid-19th century. Soon after, Olmsted and Vaux took over the design and created a very attractive bucolic array of winding paths up the hillside. Their plan included a relatively modest memorial to the Martyrs (prisoners taken by the British during the Revolution) and a pair of stairways up the northerly side of the hill to the monument. This created a mixture of styles -- bucolic and monumental -- but one they carried off very well by not exaggerating the monumental. In the early 20th century, McKim, Mead & White were engaged to redo the monument. They made it much more grandiose, turned the pair of stairways into a single stairway 100 feet wide, and created a very formal promenade leading toward the stairway. In my opinion, that disrupted the pleasant Omstead and Vaux fit of styles and turned it into a clash. However, over the following decades, there were gradual modifications, and much growth of trees, that tempered the clash. The styles are now made quite compatible because, in a bucolic Olmstedian manner, the approach to the monument is a bucolic experience. You see nothing of it from the street or as you enter the Park from the north-westerly corner. But as you walk further, you catch glimpses of stairs and memorial column. The experience becomes similar to walking along a hillside winding path and finding a new surprise at every turn. Gradually, the entire monument is revealed and it becomes breathtaking, something that will not happen if you see the whole view from the street and, if a tourist, can check that off your list and go on to Juniors or whatever to experience the next site without having even entered the Park.
The City Club is working with local residents to try to get design modifications that will maintain the existing character.
The City Club is working with local residents to try to get design modifications that will maintain the existing character.
NYC Parks argued that the trees planned for removal block the view of the monument, and were planted too closely together.
Parks policy for new tree installation significantly shrunk the previously existing tree-to-tree planting distance for large growing trees from 25-30 ft between trees to a 10-12 ft distance (and even less). Their landscape architect experts and tree managers cited that such close proximity to trees and dense plantings in groves is perfectly acceptable as it uniquely emulates a forest condition. This practice continues to be seen not only on street tree installations but Parks Capital projects throughout the city.
Parks policy for new tree installation significantly shrunk the previously existing tree-to-tree planting distance for large growing trees from 25-30 ft between trees to a 10-12 ft distance (and even less). Their landscape architect experts and tree managers cited that such close proximity to trees and dense plantings in groves is perfectly acceptable as it uniquely emulates a forest condition. This practice continues to be seen not only on street tree installations but Parks Capital projects throughout the city.
Long contested by a number of notable urban tree practitioners throughout the 10 year Million Tree planting program is the modification of Parks Forestry's own tree installation distance rule as it doesn't allow for the maximizing of potential tree canopy. A hallmark of the Bloomberg PlaNYC 2030 Million Tree program has been to expand urban tree canopy by 30%, not reduce it.
Long contested by a number of notable urban tree practitioners throughout the 10 year Million Tree planting program is the modification of Parks Forestry's own tree installation distance rule as it doesn't allow for the maximizing of potential tree canopy. A hallmark of the Bloomberg PlaNYC 2030 Million Tree program has been to expand urban tree canopy by 30%, not reduce it.
"UTC increases can be most efficiently realized by maximizing protection and maintenance in combination with new plantings and natural regeneration. If these trees are managed so that their anticipated mature crown projections are realized, significant UTC increases will occur in concert with planting efforts. Therefore, the number of new trees needed to achieve a UTC goal in NYC will depend upon mortality and growth rates of existing trees and new trees."
"UTC increases can be most efficiently realized by maximizing protection and maintenance in combination with new plantings and natural regeneration. If these trees are managed so that their anticipated mature crown projections are realized, significant UTC increases will occur in concert with planting efforts. Therefore, the number of new trees needed to achieve a UTC goal in NYC will depend upon mortality and growth rates of existing trees and new trees."