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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods · Latest on Crooks
Point |
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Lisa Pillarella’s
Letter
Dear member
of Protectors' E-Mail Network: As you
know, we are involved in a battle over the future of Crooke's Point. Will all
vegetation in a one acre pilot project area be removed, using herbicides and
bulldozers, in order to plant 800-1,000 trees? This project will extend to 25 acres,
covering most of Crooke's Point. WE NEED
YOUR HELP! Will you please write a
short - or long - letter to the Advance. Here are
the details: Protectors
needs your help to save Crooke's Point at Gateway National Recreation Area -
Great Kills Park - from devastating actions planned by the National Park
Service (NPS) and City Parks Natural Resources Group (NRG). These two
agencies intend to use herbicides and bulldozers to clear a one acre pilot
project area of all vegetation in order to plant 800-1,000 trees under the
City's Million Trees Project. Protectors is very concerned about the potential negative effects of this plan and
its methods. Sprayed herbicides will
drift to areas where plantings of Seaside Goldenrod, Bayberry and Sumac
nurture migrating birds and Monarch Butterflies. Herbicides will filter through the porous
sand into adjacent fishing areas. Will
this poison fish which feed and breed in Great Kills Harbor? Removing vegetation and roots from this
spit of land will destabilize the sand, leading to erosion and possible
breaching of this narrow spit of sand. Crooke's
Point is designated by NPS as a natural area, an area for environmental
education trails and school visits, and for walking, fishing, bird watching
and relaxation. The NPS sees Crooke's Point
as a ruined and failed habitat. Protectors sees Crooke's Point as a vital natural habitat
for departure along the Atlantic Migratory Flyway. Protectors says
the site should be enhanced with native plants, but not by completely
altering the existing natural area. The NPS and
NRG must develop ways to improve habitats without resorting to bulldozers and
dangerous herbicides. The NPS and the
NRG must abandon their plan to plant hundreds to thousands of trees at
Crooke's Point. You may
want to read Hillel Lofaso's letter in the Nov.
13th Perspectives Section: "Protectors is trying to save Crooke's Point
from a bad plan." It is on our web site, www.siprotectors.org in the
Crooke's Point news. PLEASE
WRITE AS SOON AS YOU CAN. Your letter needn't be long. E-mail editor@siadvance.com or write
Editor, SI Advance, 950 Fingerboard Road, 10305 saying you oppose the
destruction of even one acre of Crooke's Point. The plan is to plant 25 acres
at 1,000 trees an acre. This natural area would become a tree farm! Keep to the 200 word limit; don't use
attachments. Include your address, community and phone which they will not
print. Please e-mail me so that I will
know you have written. Please help to
save Crooke's Point. Lisa Pillarella LPillarella@si.rr.com for questions or help call 718-948-2662 |
©2004 PPOW