FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com JUNE 9, 2016 • THE COURIER SUN 11 Queens is home to the largest tree in the city BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected] @AngelaMatua New York City is sometimes referred to as a “concrete jungle,” but a study by the Natural Areas Conservancy found that the fi ve boroughs are much greener than many may think. The study found that Queens specifi cally has 7,482 acres of public parkland and 2,157 acres consist of forests, grasslands and wetlands. The borough is also home to 346 individual plant species and 163 of those species are native to Queens, according to spokesperson Nicole Brownstein. The 10 forest, grassland and wetland sites are designated Forever Wild, which means they will be eternally protected and preserved by the Parks Department. They include Alley Pond Park Preserve in Little Neck, Cunningham Park Preserve in Bayside, Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary in Arverne, Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Corona, Forest Park Preserve in Woodhaven, Highland Park Preserve in This red oak tree in Cunningham Park is the largest tree in New York City. Ridgewood, Idlewild Park Preserve in Springfield Gardens, Rockaway Beach, Spring Creek Park Preserve in Howard Beach and Udalls Cove Park Preserve in Little Neck. Eight of these sites are open to the public, while closed sites include Udalls Cove and Spring Creek Park, which are protected nature preserves that support bird populations. The most diverse park in Queens is Alley Pond Park, which features 230 unique plant species, 114 of which are native. In second place, Forest Park features 164 plant species, 87 of which are native to Queens. Cunningham Park Preserve in Bayside was the Photo courtesy of Natural Areas Conservancy site of the largest tree discovered in all fi ve boroughs — a 5-foot-wide red oak tree. Natural Areas Conservancy took the fi ndings from their two-year study and placed them on a map to highlight the 10,000 acres of forests, wetlands and grasslands across the city. The additional 10,800 acres of natural spaces managed by the state and federal government were not included. “New Yorkers may be surprised to learn about the astounding natural diversity right in our backyard,” said Sarah Charlop-Powers, executive director of the Natural Areas Conservancy. “Our research will shape future conservation efforts as we work to make NYC’s wild places accessible to new audiences.” The study found that the 10,000 acres of parkland represent an area 12 times the size of Central Park and that there are 2,100 species of plants and trees; 350 species of birds; 200 species of native bees; and 180 species of rare animals. Natural Areas Conservancy, a nonprofi t aimed at promoting conservation of New York City’s public parkland, are spearheading a campaign to promote these sites to New Yorkers and will host nature events in each borough. These events will include walking tours, a lecture and an oyster bed activity led by the nonprofi t starting in June. Great rates like ours are always in season. 1.40% 24-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit To qualify you must open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking Plus account. Get the complete access and control you desire with a competitive interest rate and banking on-the-go with our Flushing Bank Mobile2 app. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New money only. APY effective May 10, 2016. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. A new Complete Checking Plus account with a $5,000 minimum initial deposit is required to receive the CD with the advertised rate. Certain fees and restrictions may apply. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. A new checking account is not required for IRA accounts. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details. 2 Flushing Bank Mobile Banking is available to all Flushing Bank online banking users. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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