North Hempstead, NY – Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth announced this week that the Town’s Parks and Highways departments will be soon removing 14 trees from Manorhaven Beach Park that were badly damaged or destroyed during Superstorm Sandy. This was determined following the recommendation of two independent arborists, Colgan Tree and Landscape Service and Thayer. A tree replacement program using salt tolerant species will begin in the spring and will continue over the next several growing seasons.

In a letter distributed to local community groups this week, Town Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jill Weber said, “Two different consulting arborists have studied and evaluated the trees and have determined that 14 trees located around the park were affected by sea sprayed salt, salt water uptake, and sewage water to such an extent that they must be removed. Some of the trees have already died and all that are designated for removal have sustained irreversible damage from the contaminants.”

The cost of removing the damaged and dead trees will be fully reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), other than the cost of removing the tree stumps, which the Town will pay for.

“We are committed to working with our Parks and Highway Departments in order to launch a robust long-term tree replacement program that will restore Manorhaven Beach Park to its pre-Sandy splendor,” Supervisor Bosworth said. “The Town continues to seek ways to improve resiliency of our infrastructure and that includes selecting trees that can better withstand future storms.”

The Town is also in the process of evaluating the trees that were similarly affected at North Hempstead Beach Park and expect to embark on a tree removal program at that park in the near future.

To view the reports issued by Colgan and Thayer, log on to www.northhempsteadny.gov/arboristreport. For more information, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.