A tree fell in Prospect Park last week, injuring four teens, one seriously, a police official said.
Seven teens were walking along the perimeter of the park when the June 5 incident occurred, according to a parent of one of the teens who wished to remain anonymous. The parent blamed the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation for not trimming the tree soon enough, which the person said, may have prevented the incident.
“I wanted people to know that when you’re in Prospect Park, to be aware. This can happen to anyone,” the parent said.
The parent said one of the teens suffered a concussion, and needed 28 stitches to close a head wound. Another teen suffered three cracked ribs, the person said. The injuries could not be confirmed at press time.
Parks Department spokesperson Phil Abramson said the toppled tree was a 26’ linden, known in German folklore as the “tree of lovers.”
“The tree had a full canopy, with a solid trunk and minor decay at base, which is fairly typical of all big trees,” he said. “We had no work order scheduling this tree for removal.”
He said an arborist had inspected the trees in that area on Nov. 28, 2005 and April 7, 2009, and found no immediate hazard regarding the tree that fell.
Deputy Inspector John Argenziano, the commanding officer of the 78th Precinct, was at the scene on the stormy night in question. He said he could not guess why the tree fell, but noted, “It was raining real hard that night.”
