Trees in East River Park Marked for ‘Demolition’
Photo: Tommy Loeb
Over a thousand trees will be uprooted later this fall when the city commences its demolition and redevelopment of East River Park.
Faux demolition flyers now dot the park to raise awareness of the impending arborcide for the controversial resiliency project. The bright-red bills announce trees as “marked for demolition by the mayor and City Council.” No doubt a campaign to further sway public opinion against the city’s plans.
As previously reported, the East Side Coastal Resiliency (official name) effort will take a minimum of five years to complete, and is intended to strengthen the coastline between Montgomery and 25th Streets. It’ll be implemented on a two-phase schedule. So, rather than closing the entire park, area residents will have access to roughly half the park. Initial work commences sometime this fall, and will remain ongoing through 2023. But swaths of space from Delancey to Houston Streets will remain open.
Despite vociferous criticism from Lower East Side locals, city officials maintain that this revised version (as opposed to the “Big U”) better protects East River Park as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change.
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