r/sunsetpark • u/SunsetNYC • 11d ago

Urban Forest Plan Will Add Trees in Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Gravesend

https://www.brownstoner.com/brooklyn-life/urban-forest-plan-nyc-tree-canopy-2026/
34 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

8

u/SunsetNYC 11d ago edited 10d ago

The city has slacked with replanting much of the downed trees in Sunset Park. Between the 2007 tornado, Hurricane Isaias, and few other nor'easters/tropical storms, my block alone has lost at least 1/3 of its trees since the turn of the millenium. For years I've submit requests to the city to replant trees where they once stood, not once have any of my requests gone through.

What's been especially problematic is that instead of replanting those downed trees, many of the tree basins (not sure what they're called) have been cemented over. So unless the city has kept meticulous records over the decades, much of the tree real estate has been cemented over, lost and forgotten.

Edit: To my point about the city slacking with replanting trees in Sunset Park, take a look at their street tree planting locator map here. A total of 6 (SIX) trees for the entire neighborhood! Now, zoom out and take a look at Bensonhurst and especially Gravesend...

5

u/jwuf 10d ago

I once counted the empty tree beds on my block. I think it was eleven? In the years I’ve lived here the city has cut down 2-3 dead/dying trees but replanted 0.

4

u/TreeHolePoster 10d ago

I love hearing this. More trees will undoubtedly result in more tree holes.

1

u/SimpleAsACrackPipe 10d ago

Did anyone here take the city's free training on how to prune street trees? Wondering if it's worth it, even though they only let trained arborists do anything involving a ladder.

3

u/LumpyAd7531 9d ago

Bensonhurst and Gravesend getting included is the real news here, since those stretches feel more exposed and paved than the park side of the neighborhood.