formal, directed, gentrified to a specific culture and economic level

"This is not an inclusive plan. It negates and removes a multicultural use of a neighborhood park in order to service a single incoming culture of traditional staid and formal viewing ... not play, exercising, socializing, creative rumpus making as has been the use of this corner FG park. The trees are healthy and should be designed around in any new gentle renovation ... Seriously, do not see why this is even a focus as it is just fine as is ... maybe a few pavers could be smoothed over but this is a functioning, vibrant, gentle, and quiet corner of a varied park that has become all to precious in its approach to restoring the horticulture and soil issues from intensive human use and love.

This project is more of the same ... formal, directed, gentrified to a specific culture and economic level ... narrow minded and blind to the gentle, varied, cohabitation and sharing that happens each day ... successfully."

it is really inconceivable how a "Parks" dept would destroy trees and pour more cement... especially when Fort Greene is being overwhelmed by diesel, trucks, noise etc.

"It is really inconceivable how a "Parks" dept would approve of destroying that which creates a city park, namely its trees!!! and pour more cement...especially when Fort Greene is being overwhelmed by diesel, trucks, noise etc., all that a city park is designed to help muffle and protect the air we breathe -- which the trees do by their very nature - positive health impacts for all, especially children and the elderly."

"I strongly object to the removal of historic and beautiful trees and further adding more hard space, reducing green space, removing the mounds, altering the historic fencing and otherwise altering the Olmsted vision for this park. I am in favor of fixing the bathrooms which have been neglected for years, having more operating hours for the visitor's center, having more guards at night in the park and fixing/repairing walkways, entrances, etc., so people don't trip, etc...NOT for tearing out our beautiful trees."

"Please leave the distinctive features and trees of Fort Green Park as they are. There can be fantastic public art programming on "the mound" - I have seen it! Please, not another sanitized park. More significantly, please do not thin out our beautiful Brooklyn trees. Thank you!"

any improvements or repairs should be done while respecting the existing trees.

"Firstly, any improvements or repairs should be done while respecting the existing trees. It is true that this corner can use some improvements. If the goal is to make the NW corner feel more connected, a good place to start would be to better connect it within the park. Currently to walk a lap around the park, one has to exit out to Myrtle, reenter via the diagonal path, exit again to St. Edwards, and reenter via the stairs. Even if the path skirts the edge, as long as it is the inside edge, it will go a long way to thread these areas together. Regarding the promenade, the raised berms look shabby and are not inviting. I would love to see the central section as a green lawn at grade level instead of a paved walkway, however, if lowering the grade would significantly impact the trees, it is not worth the modifications."

"Aside from the process for the public to even view NYC Parks Dept plans for Fort Greene's renovation, the design is uninformed, disrespectful to the original historical design of the park, and disruptive of the matured trees that are in the area.

This section of park is in need of repair, of which should be limited to adding a handicap ramp, update of lighting of the basketball courts and overall, a bathroom update, the addition of benches along the staircase and leading up to, and additional cosmetic updates as needed.

I stand with the massive public opposition to uproot trees, replace stones with scored concrete, and add in an unnecessary water feature. "

For a City that claims to be addressing Climate Change, this project is a statement of absurdity and indecency

"Given the fact that Climate Change is happening as we speak, the removal of 49 healthy mature trees and the extreme pruning of 13 more for the sole purpose of a view of the Park's monument is completely unacceptable. Not only does it signal a complete disavowal of the known cost-effective strategies for the mitigation of and adaptation to Climate Change - healthy mature urban trees - it ignores the importance of community ownership and participation in local planning decisions and the value of the historic bucolic Olmsted design and the A E Bye component. For a City that claims to be addressing Climate Change, this project is a statement of absurdity and indecency and show the Parks Department's total disdain for the resource it is supposed to be stewarding - the public's urban trees."

...trees and grass and sunlight, elements that help us thrive as humans... How do we get our officials to connect with the trees this way?

"Before I begin, in Japan, spending time in the forest is a medical prescription for health. Practitioners of energy medicine such as reiki, tai chi, or Incan Shamanism understand that trees, like other living beings, have energy centers like humans do, "chakra" in Sanskrit. They need healing sometimes, and they help us heal sometimes. Many people practice Tai Chi in New York City Parks not just because they are free, open space, but because they have trees and grass and sunlight, elements that help us thrive as humans. Ode to the trees of Fort Greene Park: I first discovered this park and trees on a bike ride to Prospect Park in the early 00's and was awed by their size and shade. Coming through the park on my bike at night was a ritual aspect of my commute, one that magnetized me to the neighborhood as in 2008. Since then, Fort Greene became my favorite park in Brooklyn. I have communed with those trees, their energy has released locked muscles in my body, relaxed me, given me sanctuary when my life otherwise seemed to be falling apart. I have sat with these trees, slept under them, and visited them at night. I wish I could convey the visceral intensity of these experiences with others so they understand how precious trees are to our psychic existence. This and all the other wonderful inspiration and health trees provide in their beautiful existence on our planet. How do we get our officials to connect with the trees this way?"

"Terry from Ft Greene says: Bureaucrats don't have psychic lives. They can't be expected to "understand trees." They understand being sued."