By Gus Saltonstall
In the past week, dozens of trees were removed from the Lincoln Center Plaza on the Upper West Side. Specifically, the trees were removed from the Barclay’s Capital Grove within the plaza, situated near West 66th Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus.
Multiple locals reached out to West Side Rag in recent days, questioning why Lincoln Center had undertaken the tree-removal decision.
“What’s going on with the removal of the mature trees in Lincoln Center?” Rebecca Ships wrote to the Rag. “I was shocked by what I saw yesterday and wondering what is going on.”
We reached out to Lincoln Center, which explained that the specific trees had been “struggling.”
“We’re currently undertaking work on the Barclay’s Capital Grove on Hearst to improve drainage and soil systems,” a Lincoln Center spokesperson wrote in an email. “The trees were struggling, unfortunately. We had lost some in recent years. In collaboration with consultants and arborists, this work will support healthier growth and create a strong foundation for the new trees to thrive.”
The spokesperson confirmed that new trees would be planted in the area and that the work was expected to be completed in May of this year.
The work within the Barclay’s Grove is not part of Lincoln Center’s West Initiative to revitalize Damrosch Park and open up the Amsterdam Avenue side of the campus.
“The decision was not taken lightly,” the Lincoln Center spokesperson emphasized about the choice to remove the struggling trees.
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So sad.
Why not take them at their word?
I’m sure the trees at “ Barclay’s Capital Grove” are well financed and will be replaced by trees from the “Oracle Capital Group” with aid by the Deloitte “green community fund” and the Andreeson Horowitz Trust for transparency in media. Of course, additional funding will be forthcoming from the Mobile/ Exxon partnership for “Partners in Sustainability” and finally the Koch foundation.
Show a little faith y’all!
If you’re unhappy with the current sponsors, feel free to write a big check yourself. The area can be renamed “Bob’s Plaza”. See, problem solved!
What?
I used to manage the landscape over at Lincoln Center. I’m the one who brought this whole matter to their attention and even spoke to the big cheese himself, and thats when the ball started rolling but it took four years to get to this point. Appearantly, David Geffen Hall wiped out much of the budget when finishing the job on a 24/7 basis during covid. We planted the flowers along Columbus and David Geffen for its opening and for the following two years. I am but a pawn, so I don’t know how they get their money, just know when its available or not.
They didnt have the money to move forward and had to wait till it was budgeted in (4yrs). Probably why Damrosh was delayed, they were supposed to start 2 years ago.
As far as the trees go, they were a poor choice of tree, being predisposed to the anthracnose fungus. Then the part about drainage and soil is true, but so many people involved, then needing bids and such. I think they were going to replace them with a Little Leaf Lindon cultivar. I had suggested Silver Elms and wich they had listened. It would have been a much nicer tree.
We no longer manage the account, so its another guy running the show. I believe the new guy to be a bit of an Old School guy in the way of doing things. I hope they do the job like I would have done. I feel it was an honor to work there and keep the place looking good.
Avery Fisher Hall never needed massive redesigning, and from what I’ve read, it was not much improved, if at all. It was a fine hall, just not exciting.
Next could you maybe get them to remove the three trash cans placed right down the middle of the plaza between Geffen Hall and the Beaumont theatre? They are right in front of reflecting pool and the sublime Henry Moore sculpture. A photo of the art is not possible without a view of the trash, too. It’s surprising they don’t realize it.
Thank you so much for verifying this. Losing trees is almost l ike losing family. I’m so glad to know they will be replacing the trees.
Thank you for your thorough reply to this article. It shows you cared for these trees and loved your job. Hope doing well. ❤️
Love your reply!
What about the “San Juan Hill Guilt-Ridden Remorse Society?”
Seriously, was it possible to replant the “old” trees in a better area? And was that done? If not, why not?
Cheaper this way.
Barclays, no apostrophe. (Check the ibank’s name. But you’re not alone, the NYT made the same error some years ago — re the Barclay’s Center + the paper sign in the plaza has an apostrophe.)
It’s always seemed to me that the paving stone level grade at the west end of the grove allows for the ingress of de-icing agent rich water. Indeed, the trees at the west end have already been replaced at least once.
Hope the fix works, the grove is nice. But not holding my breath.
When the Lincoln Center plaza was redone, they spent more on design than on thinking about what would endure, example the thin granite paving stones that crack easily. Anyone at all familiar with granite knows it has no sheer strength — slate has sheer strength. Then there are the LEDs under the steps, which utterly predictably failed because of leaks.
Aside from being tacky, the LED lights on the Plaza steps were a failure waiting to happen.
It’s like they thought they were setting up a temp light show for use during a [dry] week in June 2007.
And as I implied above, the thinking behind the red granite pavers was just a short sighted.
Relatedly and unfortunately have seen an increase in people letting dogs go on LC trees and LC campus.
Very depressing
I think LC ‘in charge’ people might consider banning dogs from LC. Sometimes it seems like it’s Lincoln Center for the Peeing/Pooping Dogs. It’d be nice if the dogs would stay away from the new trees.
And smoking. Guards don’t watch.
LC security staff (including the permanent staff) aren’t real bright.
Nasty and unnecessary comment.
Given my experiences, plural.
It was an apt comment.
And in one case I could name someone senior in LC security, albeit not sure he’s still there.
Maybe the trees were suffering from the dogs whose owners seem to consider the grove a dog run. I never understood why Lincoln Center allowed people to walk their dogs there and elsewhere on the campus.
Totally agree! I love dogs. But they shouldn’t allow them in the LC campus.
Oh please. Firstly, no signs are posted at the grove like other parts of the center denying dog owners access. It’s entirely gravel.. Secondly, the grove gets absolutely no sun at all making photosynthesis impossible. People care more about trees being displaced than people.
They explained in the post it was due to rigatoni and drainage and they are improving that, but yeah let’s make up some nonsense because you don’t like dogs.
“Rigatoni”?
hope it’s redone nicely, the grove is such a cool place to read, people watch and just relax – hopefully they’ll also bring back the wide (semi-comfortable) lounge chairs, which seemed to have gone missing in the last year or two
This area is near and dear to my wife and I as it is one of our favorite spaces in the whole city…not to mention we look down on it from our apartment. I have every confidence that Lincoln Center is handling this properly and that the trees will look better than ever in a few years.
I think the replacement of the trees is fine but I will weigh in on the dog comments. I absolutely love dogs but I wish dog owners would understand that having your dog outside does not mean the world is your dogs toilet! “Curb Your Dog” does not mean “Feces & Urine Acceptable” Curb Your Dog means take your pet to the curb to do its business. People should train their dogs when they are puppies to do so. Dogs and their owners should know that they are not welcome on the plaza or in the center of all walkways until the dog has been walked at the curb to do its business!!!!
Not everyone gets their dog as a puppy, Johnny.
When did the WSR eliminate the “like” button? What the heck!
This!
I haven’t been over there yet, but am wondering if they posted a sign about this. Why have people speculate when you can just explain what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what’s coming next?
please keep doing stories like this ,to keep all areas on their toes.
that’s why we need local rags,, too many of which have died elsewhere.
how about making this type font larger for comments?
uws reader
I don’t know what device you’re using to read The Rag, but on my desktop PC I can (and do) easily embiggen the type by pressing CTRL and the + sign. And conversely make it smaller by pressing CTRI and minus. Hope this helps.
I love the word “embiggen.”
me too!
Agreed,
Second that motion.
I sat on those awful hard curved benches in the Fall and behind me there were several dogs depositing their stuff in the sandy area. People used to sit there in chairs. I had to move because of the smell.
Thank you so much for verifying that there will be new trees coming.
Barclays still doesn’t have an apostrophe.
According, the Wikipedia, the name never had an apostrophe, even though a Mr. Barclay was one of the founders.
In 1967, it had the first ATM.
Hardly a place for trees, leaving it open makes room for an outdoor stage.