Community activists in Forest Hills are still working to restore the trees destroyed in last year’s tornado. A free tree giveaway sponsored by MillionTreesNYC and the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance (4BNPA) will be held on Sunday, June 12, at MacDonald Park.
Queens lost more than 3,000 trees during the September 2010 tornado, and Michael Perlman, the Queens Vice President of 4BNPA and the chairman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, said it’s essential to replant areas that were hit the hardest.
“Many people don’t realize the benefits of our trees,” Perlman said. “Trees convey life, beauty, contribute to our environmental sustainability and enhance property values.”
Perlman pushed the city to help restore downed trees in Forest Hills after the tornado. He documented the destruction around the neighborhood and sent a proposal to the New York Restoration Project (NYRP). This isn’t the first time Perlman has worked with NYRP; in April, the group, along with JetBlue and MillionTreesNYC, lead the planting of hundreds of trees at MacDonald Park and around the neighborhood.
NYRP is a private non-profit group that works with the city to help restore city parks. They are one of the lead sponsors of MillionTreesNYC, which has a goal of planting one million trees by the year 2030 and is part of the city’s PlaNYC initiative. Residents can request trees on public and private property by calling 311 or visiting milliontreesnyc.org.
At Sunday’s event, 100 trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The trees are approximately eight feet tall and weigh 30 pounds. The trees must be planted on private property within a few days of the event. The free giveaway will be held at MacDonald Park on 70th Avenue and Queens Boulevard from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
