Tree Killin’ Waterfall

By on August 5, 2008 4:12 pm in DUMBO

As I snapped this photo on Sunday afternoon during a jaunt to the Pop Up Park, I thought to myself, “Geez that waterfall sure must be buggin’ the River Cafe folks.”  Forgetting that observation instantly, I finished my watermelon juice and went home.  Amazingly, the New York Post reports today that the wonderful NYC Waterfalls may be killing the River Cafe’s trees with its salt water spray:

NY Post: A-Salt-Ed by the Falls: Restaurant owner Buzzy O’Keeffe worries that some of his prized plantings might not recover. He said, “I put these trees in 32 years ago,” when he launched the celebrated eatery at what was then a desolate and forbidding location. “It’s a great little park with its own irrigation system. Now, the salt spray hits them when the wind shifts in our direction,” he said.

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  • lifer

    mmmm watermelon juice

  • Sal Minella

    I guess I’m the only one who remembers the Delacorte Fountain spewing pollution from the tip of Roosevelt Island. (it may have still been called “Welfare Island” at that time)

  • http://adsformyself.blogspot.com Tim N.

    I remember the Delacorte Fountain, it was kind of a silly indulgence, right? But I knew nothing about the pollution spewing.

  • Sal Minella

    Tim: When it was found that the ‘Geyser’ was spraying polluted river water onto the Drive and environs, to his credit, Mr Delacorte (who funded the project entirely) tried to clean it up with chlorine….which caused other problems for plantings and trees.
    It was a beautiful sight, and if it was a really quiet time of day, you could hear the splashing sounds along the Drive.

  • PB

    I think the waterfalls are bust. I can’t wait for October 13 the last day for them. to many tourist in the Heights and DUMBO. looking forward to a little peace in the fall.

  • Louisa

    Went running this morning on the promenade – from Remsen to Montague all the trees are leafless and the entire garden is dying. Why have the waterfalls not been turned off? Wouldn’t there be the chance that if stopped sooner than later the casualty will simply be this season’s leaves. If this continues longer these historic trees won’t make it. Loved the waterfalls, but this is not right.