A very serious plea for the tree on the Visitation church site

To the editor:

(re: “If a tree falls at Visitation site, will anyone be around to save it?” July 13)

Not all that many years ago, a combination apartment building and medical facility was constructed on West 231st Street and Corlear Avenue. A huge sycamore tree was thought to be in the way, and talk of chopping it down went through the neighborhood.

The people very strongly objected to the destruction of the tree — and won! Eventually, the building was constructed so that its sidewalk actually hid around the tree, and it all ended well for the building and the tree, which still stands beautifully today.

As a matter of fact, the apartment building is named “Sycamore Apartments” in honor of the tree.

Now we have the threat of chopping down the cottonwood tree in the old schoolyard of the Visitation property. Bad enough the church and school were demolished. Now “they” want to take the tree, too.

When I registered my son in Visitation School back in 1960, that tree was as high and as full as it is today. So it must be a lot older than the assayer in your story of July 13 says. It has survived countless snowstorms, rainstorms, choking heat and air pollution over the years. It has earned the right to survive now!

Build around it the way the Sycamore was built. Don’t be so quick to destroy.

Part of Joyce Kilmer’s touching poem about trees says, “a tree that looks at God all day, and lifts its leafy arms to pray.” The adults and children of the now-gone Visitation church and school have nowhere to go on that bare property to pray.

At least, let the cottonwood tree remain the last of the Visitation property to pray — and maybe, just like the Sycamore Apartments — the new apartment building yet to be constructed could be named “Cottonwood Apartments” to honor the tree that still stands there.

The West 231st Street neighborhood will thank you to let the tree remain. I daresay the tree will be thankful, too.

Marcia Trummer