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Mostly Cloudy Tree replanting on hold until fall
Additional state aid will fund completion of project
The city will receive millions of dollars in additional state funds to help with the replacement of thousands of Hurricane Sandy-damaged trees that were removed last year. The replanting, which got off to a late start in the spring, has been suspended until fall due to the increasing summertime temperatures.
In March, the city awarded a $1.39 million contract to Holbrook-based Louis Barbato Landscaping to replace 2,400 trees that were cut down. According to the city’s Master Tree Replanting Plan, 2,700 new trees, comprising a greater variety of species than the city had in the past, were to be added. The LiRo Group, an engineering firm hired by the city, developed the plan.
Long Beach was previously promised a $25 million grant from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to cover the cost of various storm-related infrastructure projects that were part of the city’s Community Reconstruction Plan. At its July 7 meeting, the City Council passed a resolution allowing the city to amend its agreement with the state in order to receive an additional $1.3 million earmarked for the tree replanting.
“This is a tremendous victory for Long Beach taxpayers,” Councilman Anthony Eramo said. “Governor Cuomo has come through, and we sincerely thank him, along with Senator Schumer and Billy Crystal, for their efforts. We could not afford to pay for these trees on our own.”
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and actor Billy Crystal joined the City Council last year to call on the state and federal governments to cover the cost of replanting the trees.
“Our beach community needs these trees to absorb and filter storm water,” Councilman Scott Mandel said. “These healthy trees will also help to provide shade, produce oxygen, and moderate the temperature.”
According to Department of Public Works Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba, the project has been put on hold until September. “It just wouldn’t be prudent of us to plant the trees without having the opportunity to let their roots grow,” he said. “We’re going to need about two or three weeks in the fall to finish this up.”
