same thing is happening at galvin park in city point. WTF? it takes some truly disturbed individuals to mess with trees. although maybe they dont realize they are actually killing them. what about making signs to enlighten said tree-killers?

And wholesale gentrification is a bad idea, right?? Because the people killing the trees and racing on the streets and shooting each other have a RIGHT to be here as much as anybody lol

The people, from the city, who cut the grass in College Woods (East Rock Park) have girdled most of the trees there. They come in too close to the base of the trees and cut into the bark all around the base of the trees. The grass cutters need training, education and closer supervision.

This is definitely not the work of city grounds keepers although I do know what you mean. This looks like it was done with a blunt shovel. Some of the trees look like war victims while one or two have simply been totally stripped of bark from roots to branches.

In regards to gentrification, these kids (I'm assuming it's kids) have just as much right to be here as I do, they do not however have the right to destroy property, just as I don't have that right. It's not a matter of who belongs, just a matter of stemming destructive behaviors. They are wrecking their own park as well as mine.

pics please

OK Folks, It's time to deal with the trees in Chatham Square, and possibly the ones In Q River park as well. 2 fell to vandals only recently. The Friends of Chatham Square Community Greenspace group (URI) is in emeritus status this year due to lack of interest. Interested? I've been told that we can replace these trees as they were vandalized. I've been planting trees with URI for years, so I'm both teacher and ardent digger. Interested?? Lets come up with some concrete times that are good for the group, and I'll get in touch with Lord Ozyck and our URI intern, who I've been remiss in contacting...! PS Beer/juice/water is on me. Our group has planted as many as 6 trees in one evening, a cakewalk in the park!

I'll help.

Still can't believe people would destroy trees. Although given the number of people in our neighborhood who dump trash in front of their own homes I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Gotta love free beer...

I'm free July 10, 11, 12 (sat, sun, mon), 17, and 18 (sat, sun). Monday in the evening, and the weekends most any time. How's that sound? We could pick a day or two and bang out a bunch of trees!

Count me in, guys! I am available most days after work except Wednesdays and some Thursdays and on the weekend.

On a somewhat selfish note, the small tree in front of my house was destroyed and removed when a large limb from another tree fell on it and my car. Can I request a new tree for this barren spot, too?

How about we try for Saturday the 10th in the morning? Does that work for everyone? I can put it up on the CSNA site and make sure that others know about it too. I think that should give us enough time to get things together with the URI intern and with collecting people.

Libby, that sounds great, I think that we would just need to have that stump ground, yes? Any thoughts on how to get that accomplished?

I spoke with Anna the URI intern this AM and we posited two days during the week, Tuesday PM and Friday PM for replacing the damaged trees. Weekends are impossible for me, but we could always divide and conquer as well if weekends are better for the majority. Thoughts? Since Friends of Chatham Square has been planting trees forever, Anna is happy to drop off supplies, and let us go to it. I told her that 7/9/10 was the earliest we'd plant at any rate. Thoughts? Comments?

DEZ,

Sounds great though due to classes on Tuesday and my own greenspace group meeting on Friday I'd have to be out. It sounds like there is enough support to move ahead with this Friday or Tuesday/Friday of next week though. Let me know what you decide and I will try to drum up support for you.

By the way, I saw and thanked a crew at Q River Park this morning comprised of area high school students, Chris Ozyck and others replacing the two broken trees! Good job and thank you!

OK, sorry I've been persona missing on this...blame my career! We are doing a planting in Chatham Square starting at 8:30 AM Saturday July 24th. We are planting one tree. We are also doing a "Save our Trees" campaign by wrapping the existing trees to prevent further damage by the pitbull training yahoos who are causing the damage. I am opening a new "clickit" on that issue and would appreciate a HUGE response from everyone. As well, we will be doing cleanup maintenance in Chatham Square as well. Please, if you happen to notice unleashed dogs in general in the park, or pitbulls hanging from bark strips and branches, call the police. Every bit helps! See you on Saturday!

Sunday's New Haven Register has an article about this-- supposedly the damage is being caused by pit bull owners-- hanging the dogs up somehow to strengthen their jaws and muscles. I really, really hope this isn't true???

The dogs aren't being hung up, don't worry! The physiology of the pitbulls jaw is to clamp, and not release. They are trained to clamp on to rope, we removed a length of it from a tree, branches, or the bark itself. Bark, when grabbed low at ground level, is summarily yanked upwards in jerking motion, as it (sadly) peels off the trunk in large strips. The yanking motion, when either standing on the ground or dangling from the vice like hold, is what gives the workout. The ignorant owner just stands there watching. It's unfortunate that these particular dogs are pitbulls, because they really do get a bad rap for having ignorant owners. Regardless of pedigree, poodles doing this would elicit, perhaps, different emotions.

This issue has been fixed. Neighborhood residents installed protective fencing and the problem has been elimintated.

It is solved