The Friends of Fort Greene Park (FFGP) held a protest outside of 55 Hanson Place Wednesday afternoon, in an effort to call on City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton, Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) to help them fight a two year battle with the City’s Parks Department on a proposal to build a plaza in Fort Greene Park, which will result in the destruction of 58 trees.
Over 30 activists were in front of the Shirley Chisolm Building shouting, “High, low let them grow. High, low let them grow,” as they oppose the Parks Departments latest proposal of laying down a 43-foot hardscape plaza where 58 trees currently stand. The plaza will come down in the center from Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Streets to the steps of the monument.
“We’re here to ask Laurie Cumbo to stop the plan. She has the power and we invite her to come down and talk to us,” said activist Enid Braun.
The Parks Department claims they will plant at least double the amount of trees torn down, but have not issued a statement in regards to where the trees will be planted. The restitution of planting new trees costs around $1 million, but the new trees have a high die rate.
According to Ling Hsu, the President of Friends of Fort Greene Park (FGP), the organization conducted an internal forestry report and found that most trees are actually healthy, contrary to what the Parks Department stated that the trees removed are at the end of their life.
“That’s what we’re here for. We want the politicians, elected officials to tell the parks department to work with the community and design a solution that’s really beneficial to the community. We had a meeting with Laurie Cumbo last year, she took our counterproposal, but we’ve never heard back,” said Hsu.
Edwina Glasco, a 40-year resident at the Kingsview Homes, accepts that the park needs renovations done, but doesn’t see the reason as to why so many trees must perish because of it. “Laurie Cumbo needs to listen to the people that put her in office cause she’s going to want to run again and we’re not going to forget,” said Glasco.
Editor’s Note: KCP is writing a follow-up to this story to get a response from both Cumbo’s office and the Parks Department to learn more about this project.
