Recently in Kissena Park near Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing, a large swath of small trees, nearly 300 in number, has been deliberately damaged. It appears that the damage was done to create a trail for mountain biking or all-terrain vehicles. On April 15, Council Member Meng Yi Huang, along with the Commissioner of the New York City Parks Department and the head of the NYPD Queens North Precinct, held a press conference at the site to condemn the vandalism and urge the public to provide any leads on the case.
Located near the Velodrome parking lot in Kissena Park, accessible from the intersection of Booth Memorial Avenue and Parsons Boulevard in Flushing, this small wooded area is part of a large-scale reforestation project in Kissena Park. According to the Kissena Park Planting Sites map by the Parks Department, volunteers from the park maintenance organization Kissena Synergy have been planting saplings here since 2022. However, a week ago, the volunteers received reports of vandalism. When they visited the site last Wednesday, April 10, they found that the saplings they had worked hard to plant had been either flattened or uprooted, with holes dug in the ground and dirt mounds created for off-roading practice. They were devastated to see years of effort gone to waste.
Council Member Meng Yi Huang stated that around 2000 saplings were planted in this area, but nearly 300 of them were destroyed a week ago, resulting in economic losses of at least $15,000. She emphasized that damaging public spaces constitutes a serious offense.
Upon inspection, reporters observed scattered saplings with pink ribbons, some lying on the ground and others pulled out by the roots, indicating a significant decrease compared to previous photos.
Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue noted that hundreds of young trees and shrubs had been destroyed, not only harming the environment but also undoing the hard work of staff and volunteers. The vandalism was likely for the purpose of creating an off-road bike trail. Law enforcement personnel from the Parks Department are collaborating with the NYPD to investigate the incident and identify the perpetrators. They encourage the public to report any illegal activities they witness.
Kip Stein, Director of Natural Area Management at the Parks Department, explained that this area is part of the park’s restoration zone. Previously dominated by porcelain berry vines, which have a limited biodiversity, a variety of tree species were later planted to create a mature native forest, providing habitat for birds and increasing water absorption among other benefits.
Leona Chin, one of the volunteers involved in planting and maintaining the trees, expressed dismay over the destruction. She mentioned that the saplings were planted around four feet apart, and in addition to planting, they were engaged in weed control and ground covering activities several days a week within the park. Upon receiving reports of vandalism on Tuesday, April 9, and visiting the site on Wednesday, many of the saplings were found flattened. Leona set up barriers as clues to monitor whether the vandals would return. Although the barriers were still in place, it was evident that someone had cleaned up the area by Sunday, April 14. By Monday morning, the site had been cleared.
Christine Bastedenbeck, head of the NYPD Queens North Precinct Command, urged the public to provide any information related to the case and encouraged them to call the tip hotline at 800-577-8477.