I’ve previously reported on the young trees dying repeatedly around the Washington Square Fountain, this tree (pictured above) now makes tree #8. Over the last two years, trees have been replaced by the Parks Department and died 3x in two locations around the fountain; a new arborcidal incident occurred on the western side just recently. Now this — the fourth location lining the fountain to exhibit a dead tree.
These events were forecast by a landscape architect I encountered back in August of 2009 who predicted ALL the trees around the fountain would likely die and attributed this to the design.
These young (now dead) trees replaced perfectly healthy living trees which were 40+ years old, axed because they got in the way of the Bloomberg Administration’s plan to move the famous fountain 22 feet east to align with the Arch at Fifth Avenue.
The reality is that these aren’t the only dead trees dying at Washington Square Park. North, South, East, West, Perimeter, Within – trees are dying all over at the park. (Photos to come.)
What can be done to stop the New York City Parks Department from committing this arborcide?
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One place to contact: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s office — Allie Nudelman; liaison to Community Board 2 District – direct phone # 212/564-7757
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Previously at WSP Blog:
July 11, 2011: Why do the Newly Planted Trees Around the Washington Square Fountain Keep Dying?
July 15, 2011: Arborcidal Design for Fountain Trees — Will City’s Parks Department Address This at Last?
December 10,2009: Two of Seven Newly Planted Trees that Line the Fountain have died — Is the cause the design?
Photo: Cathryn