Storm damaged trees taken down by Norwalk

NORWALK, Conn. – Hurricane winds continue to affect Norwalk and its budget.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation on Tuesday approved a transfer of $6,500 from a utility account to a tree removal account. That is because many trees in the park system are dead or dying, Department of Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mocciae said.

“A lot of trees have been struggling since the past two seasons of storms,” Mocciae said in an email. “Dead trees must be removed if they become a hazard for safety in the parks.”

Bouton Street Park lost 20 pines to salt damage, Mocciae said. Woodward Avenue Park had 21 dead pine trees, the BET agenda said.

There is a row of stumps along the Woodward Avenue edge of the park there. Bouton Street Park shows only one obvious sign of tree damage, as numerous low-hanging branches have been cut from a large tree close to the road. Two park neighbors who were standing next to the tree Thursday evening lamented the work that had been done, and hoped the tree would remain. “It’s beautiful,” they said.

Mocciae said there may be some mitigation of the damage.

“We will be replacing  trees in areas where there has been an unusual amount damaged,” he said. “The Council had approved a significant budget for tree replacement over the past two seasons.”