Letter to NYC Parks Deparmtment and Community Board 5:

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Maspeth's town Christmas tree, which I believe is on NYC Parks Department property at 69th Street and Grand Avenue, was unceremoniously ripped down this past weekend, and a circular wall was built in its place.

This evening I noticed a contractor along with his pickup truck full of equipment on the park plaza. He had just finished cementing the last bricks in place and he told me that the old tree had died, so it had been removed, and that a new fully-grown tree was coming, although he had no idea as to when. I pass that tree often and don't recall it looking dead. In fact, it looked to me like it needed a pruning.

Anyway, I asked him who hired him and who was paying for the construction he said it was a “big secret.”

I was expecting to hear him say “the Parks Department,” so I am concerned that this was done without Parks' permission.

Am I correct?

Thank you.

Christina Wilkinson
Secretary
Juniper Park Civic Association