Shovel in one hand, chainsaw in the other

This following article is from Metro New York. Be sure to check out all the linked articles:

Mayor’s program: Plant million trees
by Patrick Arden / Metro New York

APR 2, 2008

NEW YORK. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has declared April as MillionTreesNYC Month. But to accomplish his goal of planting 1 million new trees by 2030, New Yorkers might have to buy most of the saplings themselves.

Residents near the Ridgewood Reservoir wonder why all the emphasis is on “new.” They’re fighting a proposal to raze 20 acres of dense forest to put down artificial turf fields. Yet, as the neighborhood around Yankee Stadium learned in a court ruling, “Trees themselves have no legal protections.”

Former Parks commissioner Henry Stern pushed for a law to punish the destroyers of trees. Nowadays it’s likely to be the city that’s pulling the chain saw.

“I’ve never seen an administration so intent on the destruction of trees,” said Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates. “It’s open season.”

Tree muggers

Here’s a partial list of recent hatchet jobs:

Randall’s Island: thousands

Macombs Dam and Mullaly parks: 377

Washington Square: up to 32

Highbridge Park: 51

Union Square: 14

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