City Council Member Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Height, Crown Height) today refused to jump into the brouhaha between local environmentalists and the city’s Park’s Department, who is readying to chop down as many as 71 mature trees to “renovate” Fort Green Park.
The 30.2-acre park is bound by Myrtle and DeKalb avenues, Washington Park and St. Andrews Street. The Parks Department is looking to renovate the park with the construction of a 43-foot hardscape plaza in the center from Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Streets to the steps of the Fort Greene Monument, which honors patriot soldiers who died during the War of 1812.
The Parks Department claims they will plant at least double the number 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
Yesterday, the Friends of Fort Greene Park (FFGP) held a protest outside Cumbo’s office on Hanson Place to protest the tearing down of the trees for the renovations, but Cumbo’s office said the issue is between FFGP and not the Parks Department.
“At the moment the Majority Leader supports open dialogue between the parks department and concerned neighbors. As a stalwart for green space with a 100 percent rating from New York’s premiere
environmental group, the New York League of Conservation Voters, she continues to support
clean air and green spaces for current and future generations,” said Cumbo spokesperson Oghene Oyiborhorohe.
According to the Parks Department, the renovation will improve the park for people of all abilities, create more usable space for the community and expand the recreational opportunities on the northwest end of the park. This includes the removal of approximately 38 trees, 14 of which are in poor/unhealthy conditions and must be removed for safety purposes, they say.
“Nobody takes tree removal more seriously than Parks. We have the responsibility to balance the
benefits of development and tree preservation for the greater good of the community,” said Parks Department Spokesperson Meghan Lalor in an email sent to KCP.
The construction of the park will be handled by outside contractors who picked up the contract
once it was put out for bid.
The project is set to begin during the summer and the average time of completion will be between 12-18 months.
