Date Posted:11:22:26 04/12/06 Wed Author: Admin Subject: Welcome From The Admin
In recent times, the face of The Bronx River Forest, located to the east of the Allerton Ball-fields and north of the Botanical Gardens, has been changed. When the New York City Parks Department began this venture, with tax-payers' money, they, and the Natural Resources Group claimed that they were going to "restoring" this stretch of the river.
As their efforts progressed, it became, and is quite clear now, that they had no intentions of "restoring" anything along this once beautiful, though ignored stretch of OUR river. Instead, they planned and have succeeded in "reconstructing" the land-scape.
During the year 2002, great pains were taken to ensure the plantings of native, non-invasive speices of trees and shrubs which once graced the banks of the river. Hemlock trees, rhododendron and mountain laurel were received from up-state NY and planted, strategically, along the west bank of the river. These plantings soon disappeared. It was reported that they were seen in the Woodlawn greenhouse (NYC Parks Dept.) later.
The removal of Japanese knotweed was under-taken by volunteers who spent many long, hard and sweaty hours pulling, clipping and digging. The New York City Parks Department didn't have the civility to ensure prompt removal and certainly didn't even acknowledge the efforts.
Now, in 2006, there is precious little shade along the stretch of The Bronx River from Schrader Bridge (Kazimiroff Blvd.) up to the Gun Hill tunnels. Trees have been removed as has much of the flora. The "natural habitat" that the Parks Dept. and NRG claimed they wanted to "save" is now gone... completely.
The NRG claims that the old Cricket Pitch is part of some "flood plain". They claim that The Bronx River over-flows its banks and spills into the area. Local residents KNOW, full well, that The Bronx River hasn't over-flowed its banks, particularly in that area, in MANY years. But the NRG thinks it knows better.
Here is your opportunity to post your opinion on the disaster that's taken place along The Bronx River Forest.
Here's you opportunity to anonymously give voice to your thoughts on the matter.
WE took great care of that river and that area BEFORE the intervention of the New York City Parks Department and the NRG. What they've done is unforgivable.
