Highbridge Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Parks Plants Trees And Restores Highbridge Park In MillionTreesNYC Effort

Photo by Daniel Avila

As part of MillionTreesNYC, a joint initiative between the City and the New York Restoration Project to plant and care for one million trees throughout the five boroughs by 2017, Parks’ Natural Resources Group (NRG) Forestry Crew Member Jose Baez led and trained Parks GreenApple Corps and Parks Opportunity Program (POP) horticulture participants to restore a valley in Highbridge Park on Monday, November 24, at a new grant site funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The group performed important forest restoration work included tree planting, erosion control, and invasive species removal.

A total of 111 trees were planted on one side of the valley. Erosion control was performed in the middle of the valley by installing biodegradable logs which are flexible and retain more water than a natural tree log and can therefore better control erosion. Invasive species, which are primary threat because they out compete and replace native vegetation, were removed. Parks plans to continue forest restoration work at the site next spring.

The restoration project brought together three different divisions within Parks: NRG, GreenApple Corps, and POP. NRG’s primary mission is to conserve New York City's natural resources for the benefit of ecosystem and public health through acquisition, management, restoration, and advocacy using a scientifically supported and sustainable research. GreenApple Corps is a nine month public service training program which teaches technical skills, practical knowledge, and personal development through environmental field work. The Parks Opportunity Program is one of the nation’s largest transitional employment programs–with approximately 3,000 trainees working in New York City’s parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers. In preparation for private sector careers, POP participants gain transferable skills in fields such as security, horticulture, administration, maintenance, and customer service while receiving employment services and career counseling.

MillionTreesNYC is a component of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiative to create a sustainable New York City. Through education and volunteer opportunities, MillionTreesNYC is engaging all New Yorkers to plant, protect, and care for trees in the City’s urban forest. Since the MillionTreesNYC initiative was launched in October 2007, 137,339 trees have been planted. For more information, visit www.milliontreesnyc.org.

P.E.P. BLOTTER

On Monday, November 17th at approximately 7:30 p.m., the PEP command station at Hudson River Park received a phone call from an employee at Pier 66 of a possible burglary attempt at the Boathouse. Officers Jacqueline DeLeon and Aston McKen quickly responded and upon their arrival at Pier 66 they observed a male standing by a section of closed gate gesturing and yelling that the officers were coming. They also observed a second male climbing over the gate from a restricted area. As the officers approached, both males tried to flee the area. After a brief chase and physical struggle, both individuals were placed under arrest. As additional units arrived to assist, Officer McKen investigated the rear of the building. At this point he noticed that a top section of the metal railing behind the building was missing. The metal piece was found jammed under the roll down gate to the building, apparently used to prop the gate up to gain entry. Photos were taken and the piece of piping was brought to the precinct as evidence. Both perpetrators were transported to the 10th precinct where they were charged with felony counts of attempted burglary and criminal trespass along with a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. After questioning by precinct detectives, one of the suspects implicated a third person in the incident. That individual was later arrested by detectives and charged with attempted burglary and trespassing as well.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”

Samuel Johnson
(1709 – 1784)

Know Before You Go

Highbridge Recreation Center