Storm-ravaged Marine Park will be getting 60 new trees this fall.
Last month’s nor’easter devastated the borough’s largest park, located between Avenue U, Stuart Street, Fillmore Avenue and East 33rd Street, knocking over 53 trees.
The city then turned parts of the park into dead tree storage area for the entire borough.
Now the Parks Department says it plans to replace the park’s fallen trees during the next planting season, which runs from October to December.
It’ll cost the Parks Department about $700 for each new oak tree planted.
But that’s money well spent to the people who have been forced to stare at storm damage every time they look out their window.
“It looks so depressing now,” said Madison Marine Homecrest Civic Association member Bernadette Morrissey. “I can’t believe they can’t find a few twigs or sticks to put out there.”
Initially, the Parks Department told residents that it had no specific plans to restock Marine Park’s timber.
Experts say that a combination of especially high winds and super-saturated soil led to the demise of many of Marine Park’s trees.
Those that were strong enough to weather the storm, however, appear to be in no danger of falling.
“We did a survey of the entire park looking for additional trees that would need to be removed, and everything that’s still standing should remain,” said Andy Rabb, director of Forestry for Brooklyn.
Newly planted trees usually stand anywhere between 10 to 15 feet tall with a trunk diameter of about three inches.
Pin Oaks develop quickly and are highly adaptable. They can grow as much as 15 feet in a five- to seven-year period. They usually live 90 to 120 years.
The Parks Department is expected to start the arduous task of tearing out the severed tree shafts still littered throughout Marine Park this week using heavy earth-moving equipment.
