Reader-submitted photos
The northern section of East River Park is now completely closed for gutting (as of Sept. 8), and nearly all of the trees have been cut down. Only a few remain, and they are expected to be removed within a few days.
A resident says that about 30 squirrels are gathered near those last trees, surrounded by dust and bare ground off the Sixth Street overpass. (The entrances at 10th Street and Houston are also closed.)
With the grass dug up and the trees mostly gone, the animals are cut off from food and shelter, per the resident. The FDR's concrete dividers make it nearly impossible for them to cross safely into other areas.
The resident took a closer look at the squirrels, attempting to relocate them to greener areas... a more challenging task than anticipated.
Fearing the animals might not survive, the reader submitted a 311 service request to the Parks Department asking for the squirrels to be relocated.
The agency quickly closed the request, saying the condition was "within acceptable parameters for park/city use." The response noted that Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) will accept injured or sick small animals if brought directly to their East 110th Street drop-off site. Otherwise, residents may seek help from a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
The resident filed another 311 complaint, noting "Animal-Abuse — Other." This ticket was also quickly closed with the following reply: "The Police Department responded to the complaint and, with the information available, observed no evidence of the violation at that time."
The resident said of the squirrels, "Here they will soon be dead."
The "phased work operations" for the billion-dollar East Side Coastal Resiliency project in East River Park started in November 2021 within Project Area 1, located between Montgomery Street and 15th Street.
Workers have been covering the park with fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the ESCR project. They are raising the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges.
13 comments:
when I was a boy in the 50s there were b&w photos of dead american soldiers. Laid side by side. Kind of like this.
They were secret. We weren't allowed to see them.
What a tragedy seeing all those great tall trees cut down. I used to go there all the time in the summer and sit under them for the great shade they provided while looking out on the East River. The saplings they will plant in their place will take decades to grow as tall. What a waste.
What Carlina Rivera signed off on is just horrible. It’s a good thing that she doesn’t have a conscience or she might feel bad.
I have forwarded this article to some animal rights professionals here in NYC asking for their help. Maybe they have the contacts at organizations that can help save these squirrels from a cruel fate.
Are the squirrels able to climb out? I wonder if a ground level escape hole could be made with a bolt cutter?
Thank you very much EV Grieve for caring and posting this.
Yes, the squirrels, normally very resilient, are completely trapped. They cannon cross the active FDR drive nor know how to navigate the overpass walkways, especially as they are closed.
There must be an agency that can help rescue (need a good net. Have nuts).
It is urgent. Will risk violating No Trespass rules. It's not responsibility of Construction Co. but will also approach them.
It is amazing that after these years of preparation, the Parks Dept. did not think of all the wildlife living there. But that is past,
We can save the scores of defenseless creatures left, but need urgent help (yes with all the other vital issues before us). Please spread the word. Thank you.
That would be wonderful! thank you.
No. The highway is terribly busy 24/7 and there are a few high concrete dividers on the highway they would need know how to jump over in the middle of the highway, as well as the tall fences before and on the other side of the highway. On the other side is the river. to the south is acres of gravel and active heavy machinery. No safe passage anywhere.
thank you for thinking.
It's not surprising at all that they didn't consider the wildlife; trees themselves are wildlife, and the landscapers were woefully ignorant of this.
You are correct Scuba I have seen other construction sites around the city where the trees were surrounded by wooden barricades and protective safety netting to protect them while the contractors did their work around them. I do not see why this could not be done in this case at the East River Park. Probably because it was just easier to cut them all down. Tragic.
Couldn't they be relocated to Central Park or Battery Park? They're smart, they know they can't stay. A few nets/traps and nuts should do the trick.
All, in addition to us flooding 311 about this, we should also notify PETA, East River Alliance and the mayor's office
Terrible
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