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Prospect Park Lost 500 Trees in Last Month, Parts of Park Remain Closed

The initial estimate of 319 lost trees in Hurricane Sandy was bad enough. Now, the number has jumped to 500 lost trees in the last month thanks to Sandy and the subsequent nor’easter. Over 100 hanging limbs and almost 1,000 large branches and limbs were damaged, reports the Prospect Park Alliance. This constitutes the most damage by far sustained by the park since the founding of the Alliance 25 years ago.

Many parts of Prospect Park remain off limits to the public while cleanup continues. The shaded areas of the map above outline the areas closed to the public, most notably including Park Drive being closed to vehicles “until further notice.”

“The drives are serving as a staging area for FEMA vehicles,” says the Prospect Park Alliance, “and the corner of Coney Island and Parkside Avenues is the storm debris collection site for the whole borough. Many other areas are marked by caution tape and the public must use care and avoid these areas.”

Although other playgrounds have reopened, the Lincoln Road playground remains seriously damaged and closed until further notice.

Map: Prospect Park Alliance