Senator Avella Calls for Investigation into DPR Tree Planting Contract

Queens, NY – While standing with a Whitestone homeowner who is about to be the recipient of four brand new Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) trees, State Senator Tony Avella called for the investigation of DPR’s tree planting contract that seems more focused on meeting a quota than actually caring for and maintaining the trees.

The Whitestone homeowner, Donna Angenbroich, currently has two trees in front of her house that are beginning to cause problems for her sidewalk and front lawn. Ms, Angenbroich was recently informed that she will be receiving four pin oak trees on the side of her house—only a few feet away from the other trees—that she fears will cause a myriad of issues for her property.

Other Whitestone homeowners who have objected to DPR’s tree planting joined Senator Avella and Ms. Angenbroich. One resident says that she is also going to be receiving a DPR tree even though she has informed City officials that she does not want one and her neighbor, who has explicitly asked for a tree, has been turned down. 

“As we enter DPR’s tree planting season and see the way that they are going about planting trees it raises suspicions as to who they contract with and what their reasoning is for specific new tree locations. I had a constituent who already has a city tree on their property who will be receiving two more within ten feet of each other this season. The pattern of tree planting has makes no sense. That is why I will be asking the City and State Comptrollers, the District Attorney, Attorney General, and U.S. Attorney to look into DPR’s contracting process to find out more information about their policy and find out if there is something improper occurring,” said Senator Avella.

“I have two trees in front of my house that drop these balls with little points on them and they are hazardous for people as they walk past my house. I have many elderly people who walk past my house on the way to church. It is a hazard and it is lifting up my sidewalk. I’m worried that when the new trees are planted their roots will lift up my sidewalk on this side too. Also, I really wish the Parks Department would come to my house to investigate why my grass is being killed where the trees are,” said Donna Angenbroich.

Herbert Nowak, a Jamaica Estates homeowner, had an idea for how DPR could effectively include the community in their tree planting process, “there should be more communication between the Parks Department and the individual homeowner. They should send someone over to interview you and talk to you and find out your opinion.”