Bed-Stuy residents fear more trees could collapse after 4 left injured by falling branches
Residents say the incident has intensified longstanding concerns about tree maintenance in the area.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant residents are calling attention to what they say are dangerous, overgrown trees throughout the neighborhood one day after a falling tree injured four people.
The tree that fell inside the popular Herbert Von King Park has since been removed, leaving behind only a stump. A nearby park bench where the injured people had reportedly been sitting remains damaged. Nearby branches from a tree that was planted nearby also appeared to be trimmed since Saturday.
Residents say the incident has intensified longstanding concerns about tree maintenance in the area.
“You can see them. They are hanging over, they are right up on the properties, and when they fall, those branches go right onto the stoop or on people’s heads,” said Omar Walker, president of a local block association.
Neighbors say hazardous tree conditions have persisted for months. They pointed to a large branch that nearly fell on a family during winter storm cleanup earlier this year. According to residents, the branch narrowly missed several people.
Community members argue that city officials should take preventative action before trees or branches fall and cause injuries.
“They need an active maintenance plan for Brooklyn. Our trees are not being maintained,” Walker said.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation told News 12 it has a robust monitoring system to assess the health of trees on a monthly basis.
Still, some residents believe the latest incident shows potentially dangerous trees may be slipping through the cracks. They say they worry another tree or large branch could fall without warning.
“I feel unsafe. I’m looking up all the time. We are aware of the danger these create here,” one resident said.
