I’m delayed in writing about the 36 foot American Elm tree that was axed on the eastern end of the park at Garibaldi Plaza in late May. I mentioned it in my Washington Square Park Summer photo round up in early July.
On May 30th, the large elm that bordered Garibaldi Plaza was chopped down and removed. Who knows how old this tree actually was? But old. That elm was the one tree providing some shade for the Washington Square Music Festival as well as other summer performances on the stage. Now, it is gone to meet its belated former neighbor, the beloved Linden tree (never replaced).
NYC Parks: WSP Elm Tree Removed “as a matter of public safety”
Washington Square Park Blog reached out to the NYC Parks Department. The agency responded that the tree suffered a “structural failure during bad weather in late May.” Therefore, “Parks forestry staff had to remove the entire tree as a matter of public safety.”
Lawsuits Filed in the 2000s to Halt Park’s Redesign, At least one to Protect Trees
One of the lawsuits filed – prior to late 2007 – to halt the controversial redesign of Washington Square Park was focused largely on the fact that many trees were going to be chopped down and it was also predicted, that, due to improper construction methods, many more would die. It wouldn’t happen immediately. It might be seven to ten years later or more so it would be hard to connect it to improper protection of the trees. We are now a number of years later and an argument could be made that this is the cause. So many trees have died at the park.
The Garibaldi statue was moved from its previous location in 2010.
Elm Tree Being Chopped Down Late May
Related posts at WSP Blog:
Washington Square Park’s Garibaldi Statue Moved! April 26, 2010
Washington Square Linden Tree No More | Did “Half-Ass” Protection During Park Construction Kill the Linden Tree? July 2, 2013
Washington Square Music Festival at Garibaldi Plaza 2019
Plus:
Check out the NYC Parks Department’s New York City Tree Map!
Photos:
#1, 2, 4: Cathryn
#3: WSP EcoProjects Instagram
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While there are many elements in the urban and natural environment that can force a shade tree into declining health and premature death, the most well known element in the urban landscape that drives the greater tree mortality across the City of NY is- construction impacts and damage. The views above of public parkland trees in the landscape amid a NYC Parks Capital WSP reconstruction project is a great example. The removal of the hardscape pavers atop of the sensitive, wide spreading tree root system, the daily operation of heavy trucks, staging and storage of equipment and material, open cut trenching for new curbs and utility installation etc all takes place even today notably absent would be a full time Project Arborist knowledgeable about protecting trees in construction sites and with some authority to directly intervene on the trees behalf when interventions are needed. But that rarely happens bc Parks Capital projects are not at all about tree preservation and conservation. Thats the very last concern on the minds of planners and engineers. Instead it is all about the infrastructure, and new fashionable fixtures and furnishings being installed.
The mismanagement inflicted on NYC’s public trees at the hands of NYC Parks & Rec Capital Division is well known and utterly inexcusable.
There are well-documented protocols and procedures for protecting the existing treed landscape when in immediate proximity to spatial development projects but NYC Parks & Rec NEVER incorporate those protocols and procedures into the Design specifications and Plan Drawings that are then appended to a contract nor are they ever implemented or enforced during the Build Phase of these projects.
The modus operandi equates with “drill, baby, drill”. The contractors are allowed to do whatever the hell they feel like doing and the existing trees and their essential landscapes be damned.
What is forgotten is that these trees belong to the Public and the disdain the Capital Division has for them and the impunity with which they routinely operate results in a loss of this invaluable and cost-effective asset.
Irresponsible and unprofessional behavior on the part of people we, the taxpayer, are paying to take responsibility for our assets.
Thank you, UrbanMole and Naomi for sharing your expertise and thoughts on this sad, sorry situation with the trees at Washington Square Park. Two more trees are reported removed in NW corner yesterday.
In reading what you wrote, I’m wondering if the City Council might enact (of course, could have dubious ‘teeth’ to it) new law incorporating adequate and sufficient tree protection into any building at parks. It would be good to reach out to the chair of their Parks Committee.
Thanks again.
Cathryn