I am a certified Master Naturalist, have a science certification in grades 3-5, and do not represent any group when I am writing my opinion. The trees do not need to have the chemicals removed from them, nor do they need to be removed from the park if they are felled. The trees do need to be protected from having the toxic spray paint reapplied to the tree bark. The answer to this situation is the use of education and the police. These two programs already exist in the city and do not require more money. The police need to catch the persons responsible for this unlawful behavior. The trees in the park that have been defaced are host to mammals, woodpeckers, butterflies and other insects. The bark on the tree is essential to wildlife. The toxic spray paint that is being placed upon the Kings Grant park trees is a health hazard to both wildlife and humans. The toxic spray paint is held in the air longer because of the humidity and dampness of our climate. Persons in the nearby area are then affected by the toxic air along with wildlife. Kings Grant park 23452 is a magnificent area for outdoor science education for schools such as nearby Kingston elementary. This park is one of the few open spaces left in this area that can provide a safe place for children in the neighborhood to play in especially those that cannot afford big yards of their own or live in nearby apartments. The USA is falling behind in sciences and mathematics. It is no surprise when we allow persons to deface property that is a natural outdoor science classroom. Field trips to the Kings Grant park from Kingston elementary would be inexpensive, cost very little and would make use of an available natural resource to study plants, animals, rocks and minerals and geography. Please provide the police with the opportunity to catch these people that are picking on our economically disadvantaged children, preventing our children from getting healthy air and beneficial sunshine for free Vitamin D, and preventing people from scientifically advancing themselves in the sciences by depriving them of healthy trees without toxic spray paint.

The information has been reported and is being handled by city process.