Dear Editor:
I appreciated Mr. Singer’s concern for pedestrian safety in his May 18 “Sidewalks Needed.” Around the time his letter was published, a line of Callery Pear were planted on Patterson Plank Road to be followed by new pavement. Mr. Singer sees the “good side” of felling sycamore trees since it opened up views when the tree tops vanished. However as a resident who lives near Washington Park my view has opened up also. The “forest” of trees you described served as wind and sound and artificial light buffers. My eyes were shielded by the large trunks and dense branches of these trees from the stream of snarled, noisy traffic along Patterson Plank Road. That is now my view from my kitchen window. And, I add, not a benefit from my perspective.
Mr. Singer, I invite you to take a jaunt along Mountain Road in Union City, stand on the bridge of the Light Rail in Congress Street, or visit Firemen’s Memorial Park on Palisade Avenue affording broad views of Palisade forest and dale and the skyline along the Hudson. Unfortunately along one stretch of Patterson Plank Road near the Doric heading toward Hoboken, someone cut down a wide swathe of trees apparently so that their views could no longer be obstructed. More habitat destruction, more loss of forest. It reminds me that we need sidewalks (as you pointed out) but also the infrastructure of trees to serve the wider good of quality of life, community, and ecological sustainability.
Thanks for your letter Mr. Singer.
A man who loves our neighborhood trees,
Raven Tony Squire