Grand Army Plaza has been noticeably less festive this year without a Christmas tree, and that’s because city officials didn’t have the $3,000 it costs to cut a fresh tree and decorate it, says the Daily News.
Prosepct Park Alliance spokesman Paul Nelson told the Daily News that the lack of tree funding was due to extra money being spent on cleaning up Hurricane Irene’s damage, which downed about 100 trees in the park.
But it looks like if a tree will return to Grand Army Plaza, it will have to come through private donations.
The Daily News quoted Borough President Marty Markowitz’s spokesperson as saying that he is “confident that a benefactor can be found to sponsor a privately-funded Christmas tree at Grand Army Plaza next year.”
Grand Army Plaza is still home to , though, sponsored by the Chabad of Prospect Heights. The first lighting, on December 20, was attended by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Borough President Markowitz.
But if you're still itching for more lights, of Prospect Heights residents’ holiday decorations, as well as .
