The city Parks Department last Friday turned out in full force in Howard Beach and other south Queens communities to plant trees as part of the Million Trees NYC initiative. Photo By Michael V. Cusenza
Crews from a tree-removal and planting company contracted by the city Department of Parks and Recreation last week turned out in several Community Board 10 neighborhoods to prune and plant trees as part of the Remove and Replant and MillionTreesNYC programs.
A dozen trees, including swamp white oaks and Japanese lilacs, were planted on The Forum’s Howard Beach block alone. Crews could be seen last Friday afternoon on 156th and 155th avenues and various side blocks, including Killarney, Lahn and Huron streets, trimming errant branches and planting saplings, much to the delight of most residents.
According to a Parks spokeswoman, the agency is “planning to plant at approximately 600 locations” in CB 10 “over this season.” Additionally, Parks will be planting trees to replace ones that were lost or severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy over the next two weeks, as part of the Remove and Replant Program.
In July 2014, Parks initiated the citywide tree removal and replacement program. Trained Parks foresters surveyed every tree within the Sandy inundation zone to identify trees in poor health and those severely impacted by the storm. An estimated 10,000 trees will be removed and replanted. Tree removals began in July 2014 and will continue through July 2015. All trees will be replanted within 12 months of removal, during the next appropriate planting season. The spring season runs from March through May and the fall season from November through January.
Additionally, as part of PlaNYC and the MillionTreesNYC program, available city-owned sidewalk spaces will be filled with trees. According to Parks, street trees help improve the overall quality of life in the Big Apple by beautifying blocks and increasing property value; cleaning the air; helping to conserve energy by shading homes; and capturing and regulating the flow of stormwater runoff, minimizing the risk of flooding.
One of the more frequently asked questions regarding street trees, according to Parks, is: What if, as a property owner, I don’t want the tree? The agency indicated that since the area between the curb and the property line belongs to the city, Parks is creating a ribbon of green along this public space. The location within the sidewalk of trees and other city assets—such as street signs, bus stops, traffic lights, fire hydrants—is not optional or determined by adjacent property owners. Trees are just another municipal asset, although they grow more valuable over time instead of depreciating.
For more information, visit milliontreesnyc.org/html/plant/request.shtml
By Michael V. Cusenza
