By JASMINE GOMEZ

Several dozen trees at Williamsbridge Oval Park have been marked by the city Parks Department, with a portion of the arbores slated for replacement in what appears to be a large scale tree maintenance project. 

The New York City Department of Parks said that 71 trees will be replaced, costing an average $650 per tree. The project followed  a check by arborists from the New York City Parks Department. The Oval has a specific tree planting plan in place.

“We will be removing the trees in the coming weeks, and new set of healthy trees will be planted in their place for the continued beauty and health of Williamsbridge Oval Park,” said a Parks Department spokesperson in a statement.

The marks, all spray painted with a number and letter or x, were spotted throughout the park. A high concentration of x-marked trees were found on the northern end of the park.

Sheila Sanchez, the president of the Friends of Williamsbridge Oval Park, a grassroots group that monitors the park, told the Norwood News that the tree marks were a method of recording the tree’s condition for further action. An ‘x’ on a tree means the tree will be chopped down, while a dot indicates a tree will require some grooming such as a trimming.

A walk through the park, considered one of the jewels of the Norwood community, shows neighbors exercising, walking their dogs, playing a soccer game, or just relaxing on the bench taking in the view. Williamsbridge Oval Park includes a running track, a large multi-use field, a playground for children, and a basketball court, among its share of plant and animal life.

Domingo de Los Santos, a neighbor exercising at the park, called the trees the “life of the park.” Another neighbor added that trees offer hint of fresh air.

Sanchez noted that the planting of new trees is currently a waiting game, with the city now expected to plant new trees sometime in the future.

The Parks Department did note that it will hold an upcoming tree planting event, encouraging park advocates to become a tree steward of volunteer with Tree Count tree census.