City Responds to Goldfeder and agrees to replace Broad Channel trees destroyed by Sandy

APRIL 17, 2014

The city Department of Design and Construction agreed to allow the Parks Department to replant trees destroyed by Sandy after Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder urged the department to do so. Photo courtesy NYS Assembly

Following a year and a half of battling with everything from insurance companies to Build it Back, Broad Channel residents received some good news this week: the city has agreed to permit the Parks Department to immediately begin replanting trees destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

The decision comes in response to a letter sent by Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) last month, when he urged the city Department of Design and Construction to give the go-ahead to replace the greenery that residents said they have sorely missed since Sandy devastated the region at the end of October 2012.

“Spring is here, yet due to the absence of trees and bare sidewalks, we are still reminded of Sandy’s destruction each day,” Goldfeder said. “I want to thank DDC for agreeing to work around trees during their work and urge the Parks Department to immediately replace all the trees lost during the storm and beautify our community for our families to enjoy once again.”

In March, Goldfeder sent a letter to DDC Acting Commissioner David Resnick asking him to expedite the DDC’s resurfacing and sidewalk repair project in Broad Channel to allow for the Parks Department to replant trees. DDC responded by agreeing to make sure the timing of their street projects does not prevent the Parks Department from replanting.

Commissioner Resnick also told Golfeder that if the Parks Department begins replanting, officials will direct contractors to install proper protection around the trees before the roadway work commences.

“I would like to thank everyone who got involved in this project,” said Judy Zack, a member of the Broad Channel Civic Association’s Beautification Committee. “The Beautification Committee’s objective was to get all the trees that were lost during Sandy replaced, and now it seems we are on the road to recover.”

“This tree replanting initiative will go a long way in improving our quality of life and bring the beauty back into our neighborhood,” Zack continued. “I encourage the Parks Department to act immediately.”

DDC’s street and sidewalk repair project was assigned in June 2013 to fix the areas from West 5th to West 20th Road in Broad Channel. Due to alternate construction work by the city Department of Transportation, DDC’s project to repair roadways and sidewalks along Cross Bay Boulevard has been delayed. Once work begins, it should take approximately seven weeks to complete. According to the DDC, the scope of the work for Cross Bay will not harm any of the potentially newly planted trees.

“We need to do everything we can to allow our communities to move forward and rebuild,” Goldfeder said. “DDC has agreed to work with Parks, and there should be no further delays in our recovery.”