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.
Longtime resident Anthony Donovan 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 Donovan. The FDR's concrete dividers make it nearly impossible for them to cross safely into other areas.
Donovan 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."
Donovan 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.
