I'd like to give an update on the status of the trees at St. Mary's.

If you haven't yet heard, 15 trees at St. Mary's were vandalized Saturday night about 11:30pm.  Someone with a chainsaw cut a full ring cut to the trunks of all but two of the trees from the beach to the flagpole.

I just met down at St. Mary's with Charlie Carroll, the Director of Public Facilities, Andy Valeri, Manager or Parks, Roadways, Steve Hladun, Dept of Parks & Rec Project Coordinator, Chris Donnelly, the Urban Forestry Coordinator, CT DEP Forestry and a representative from the Mayor's office.

Chris Donnelly assessed the trees and suggested the small ones be taken down now.  Those 6 or so trees are being taken down now.  The remaining

9 are much larger and are, according to Mr. Donnelly, worth waiting to see what happens with them.  It may take a year or two for them to weaken enough to need to be taken down so we could replace the 6 trees that have to be removed now and give them a chance to grow before we have to take down the big ones.

There is also a possibility the bigger trees survive and only time will tell that story.

The park remains closed at this moment because the smaller trees are at risk of snapping.  The park will be reopened hopefully this afternoon after the smaller trees are taken down by the city.  If not, it will be tomorrow.

Please forgive any mis-statements of scientific significance.  I don't proclaim to be in any way knowledgeable on the topic but wanted to to relay the latest information.

Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions.  Also, please forward to your neighbrhood groups / organizations.

Thanks.

Sue

Susan T. Brannelly

Bridgeport City Council

130th District

520 Lake Avenue

203 335-1112

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