Fort Greene Park Trees Saved As Locals Beat City In Court

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — No need to cry timber. Dozens of Fort Greene Park trees have been spared the chop after local advocates beat the city's $10.5 million renovation plan in court.

Friends of Fort Greene Park — local advocates fighting plans to tear down 83 trees in the Brooklyn green space — won the second of two lawsuits against the Park Department in New York State Supreme Court last week, the group announced.

"Thankfully, Fort Greene residents came together and prevailed," said Ling Hsu, FFGP President. "The ruling is a reminder to the Parks Department to resume its role as a steward of greenery for the community at historic Fort Greene Park.”

Judge Julio Rodriguez ultimately agreed with plaintiffs — who included the Sierra Club and the City Club of New York — that the Parks Department's failure to conduct a environmental impact study rendered proposed plans impossible.

The judge ordered the Parks Department to review how the loss of 83 mature trees would affect the environment and community, according to a press statement from Friends of Fort Greene Park.

"This decision should awaken the Department to reality," said legal advisor Michael Gruen. "Environmental regulation is not enacted to be evaded as if it were merely an annoyance.”

Friends of Fort Greene Park won its first legal battle against the city in July, when the Parks Department was forced to release a report that showed private landscape architect Nancy Owens did not advise chopping down healthy trees.

While Parks Department argued their proposed renovation was exempt from environmental study requirements because it was routine, advocates countered there was nothing routine about ignoring architects' recommendations.

On Monday, a spokesperson from the city's Law Department argued the judge's decision delayed vital repairs that would have improved accessibility for the community.

"We disagree with this ruling," the representative said. "An environmental review was not required. We are reviewing the city’s legal options to continue this important initiative."

Georgette Poe, an FFGP member and resident of nearby NYCHA housing, celebrated the ruling as a victory for the public housing community, as the plan would have cut down 58 mature trees in the northwest section nearest the Ingersoll and Whitman houses.

“The City came in, didn’t ask us what we needed and then didn’t listen to the neighborhood," said Poe. "[They] wanted to take our park away, telling us we’re not welcome anymore."

The plan also called for flattening and paving 13,000 square feet of greenery to install a concrete plaza, fountain and 200 sapling trees that would take decades to mature, the advocates said.

"It just doesn’t make sense," said FFGP member Arija Flowers. "Parks are supposed to be about trees and green spaces, birds and bees. We don’t need another paved plaza.”

The Parks Department declined to comment.