On the night of Saturday, June 6, a devastating storm swept through Queens, leaving a trail of destruction and tragedy in its wake. Among the storm’s victims was Zenon Reynarowych, an 85-year-old Glendale resident who lost his life when a tree fell on him in Forest Park. The incident has sparked urgent calls for action from local officials and has highlighted the need for improved tree maintenance in the city’s parks and residential areas.
The storm, which brought wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, caused widespread damage across the borough, with trees and branches falling onto homes, sidewalks, and utility lines. The fallen tree that struck Reynarowych was located on a hiking trail south of the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Union Turnpike, near the entrance ramp to the Jackie Robinson Parkway. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, Reynarowych was pronounced dead at the scene.
The aftermath of the storm
The storm’s impact was felt throughout Queens, with more than 5,000 customers losing power as trees and branches fell onto overhead electric delivery equipment. Con Edison crews worked tirelessly to restore service, with nearly 14,000 customers regaining power by Monday. However, the damage was extensive, with fallen trees reported in Bayside, Douglaston, Jamaica, Little Neck, and Maspeth.
The NYC Parks Department also faced a significant cleanup effort, with over 2,000 service requests for downed or damaged trees across the city. Of these, 1,367 were in Queens, with 987 requests specifically for downed trees. Parks Forestry crews worked around the clock to clear fallen trees and debris, with the department urging residents to report any tree conditions to 311.
Calls for action from local officials
In the wake of the tragedy, Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar fired off an open letter to the city’s Parks Department, demanding action to address the issue of dangerous trees in South Queens parks and residential areas. Rajkumar emphasized the urgent need for expanded and accelerated tree inspections and trimming efforts, stating that “every day we fail to act brings us one storm or gust of wind closer to disaster.”
Rajkumar’s letter highlighted the city’s vast tree population, with approximately 7 million trees covering 23% of the total land area. While trees provide numerous benefits, such as cleaning the air and beautifying neighborhoods, Rajkumar stressed that “a tree that is dead, diseased, unstable, or neglected is not an asset: it is a disaster waiting to happen.” The NYC Parks Department received the letter and is currently reviewing it, with a Parks Forestry crew scheduled to inspect and remove the tree that fell on Reynarowych.
The ongoing investigation
The NYPD’s 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill responded to a 911 call just after 8:35 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, and found Reynarowych unconscious and unresponsive beneath the fallen tree. Despite the efforts of emergency medical services, Reynarowych was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Monday, there have been no arrests in the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The tragedy has served as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by neglected trees, particularly during severe weather events. As the city continues to grapple with the aftermath of the storm, officials and residents alike are calling for swift action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
