Photo: QueensPost
April 22, 2013 By Bill Parry
Six months after Superstorm Sandy damaged or destroyed scores of trees in Sunnyside and Woodside a program has begun to replace them.
Civic leaders and representatives from the City Parks Foundation gathered outside Mario’s Restaurant (43-04 47th Ave.) on Monday morning to replant the first of 70 new trees.
“What better way to celebrate Earth Day than planting a tree,” said councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, whose office has kept track of where the downed trees were located.
The Sunnyside/Woodside street that was most devastated by the hurricane was 48th Street between Skillman and 39th Ave. “It lost more trees than any other block,” Van Bramer said. However, “there were pockets of downed trees in all areas of Sunnyside and Woodside.”
Greening Western Queens, an offshoot of the City Parks Foundation, is in charge of replanting the trees. That group, which was born out of the 2006 power outage settlement with Con Edison, has worked with Van Bramer in surveying the district to determine where the trees were lost and where to plant the new ones.
“The trees we’re replanting are already 5 to 6 years old,” said Kyle Richard, the community coordinator for Greening Western Queens. “They’ll take 15 to 20 years to reach maturity.”
Don McCallian, the President of the United 40’s Civic Association, said, “Thanks to the parks people for the 70 trees. Now how about 70 more?”
