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Henry Hudson Park volunteers say park vandals improperly cut, stole & tore down trees

Removing a tree without a permit or damaging a tree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, with imprisonment of up to one year, according to the New York City Park's website.

Karina Gerry

Aug 7, 2025, 10:27 PM

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Friends of Spuyten Duyvil, a volunteer group that has permits to garden at Henry Hudson Park, is alerting community members about recent vandalism.

“I went for a walk, and I noticed that this tree had branches down, and I went, 'Oh no, the vandals again,'" said Jodie Colón, with Friends of Spuyten Duyvil.

Colón says the vandals have been coming to the park after dark with tools and cutting branches down and destroying months of hard work done by her and her fellow volunteers.

“Without authorization, without permission, without a permit and without training," said Colón.

She says these actions are having negative consequences on the plants and the volunteers.

“Parks doesn’t have the funding to come out and prune 40, 50 trees that were damaged by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing," said Colón.

Removing a tree without a permit or damaging a tree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, with imprisonment of up to one year, according to the New York City Park's website.

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