At ASLA-NY’s last film screening about the rebuilding of Ground Zero after 9/11, Michael Browne, Landscape Architect at the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, shared his story about nursing the Survivor Tree back to health. See his story below.
Spirit Tree
By Michael Browne 6/9/2024
I’m writing this to relay the origins of how the Survivor Tree was recovered because within the 23 years since the 9/11 attacks – this story hasn’t been covered thoroughly.
My name is Michael Browne, and I have worked as a Landscape Architect for 37 years in the NYC Parks Capital Projects, Division of Design and Construction. When the attack of the World Trade center occurred, I was in the Olmsted Center located in Flushing Meadow Park between the US Tennis Center and Shea Stadium, which is now Citifield. The blue skies of that Tuesday morning were marred by the harrowing task of getting the staff home safely. In the weeks that followed, where the Twin Towers once stood became Ground Zero; our sister agency, DDC, the Department of Design and Construction, had been mobilized to assist in the clean-up. Although we were eager to get in there to help, we were limited to offering our moral support as the site was being stabilized.
At the direction of the NYC Parks Commissioner Henry J. “Starquest” Stern, and upon the request from my friend and former colleague Rebecca “Becky” Clough, a Landscape Architect employed by DDC assigned to help manage the removal of the debris, I visited what was left of the World Trade Center with the intent to investigate salvageable materials. I toured the site with Becky from October 16 through November 9, 2001.
Becky had invited me to inspect a special tree she had found buried between buildings 4 and 5. These buildings framed the Church Street entrance plaza to the World Trade Center. The tree, a Bradford Callery pear, Pyrus calleryena ‘Cleveland Select’, was unique because it had sprung back to life with bright green leaves despite being knocked over, covered in layers of dust, and losing most of its branches.
There was trauma all around it, including body bags draped over its planter box. We suspected the extreme heat generated from the pile fires had fooled the tree into thinking it was spring again. The new life sprouting from the tree was contrasted with the massive ruins and extreme loss of life. These new sprigs of life inspired a spirit of hope within the work force that life can go on despite the tragic situation. The fires had been burning for a month since the attack happened. Strict rules deemed certain areas walkable to prevent injury; every step had to be taken with caution to avoid the jagged steel and sink holes. I thought the air smelled like a combination of burnt plastic and Earl Grey Tea. It was true carnage; the devastation of the site was on an incomprehensible scale.
The original pile of debris of the Twin Towers was estimated to be seven stories high but had been removed to grade level. The pile was higher than the remaining three-story façade fragments we called tree panels, which are now referred to as tridents. A short time later we included the tree panels in a proposal for a memorial bell tower. Adaptive reuse for the façade was a vision that was
lost because those with influence felt utilizing the buildings remains were too literal. They wanted to get separation from the contagious raw emotion emitted by the attack.
The removal of the debris required those working there to perform death defying tasks several times each day. Whenever they reached new territory, the professional staff would have to crawl around to perform probes including but not limited to seismic readings to verify it was safe from collapse, explosion, or some other form of calamity. Work progressed at a 24-7 pace with engineers designing and building conveyance plans on the fly using found materials. For example, a ramp bridge constructed to reach Church Street was supported and attached to left over foundation materials.
Everyone had long days that started with an early morning work plan meeting and ended with a late-night reconnaissance meeting. The operators on the many grapplers responsible for removal and loading debris worked 16-hour shifts. They were in constant movement like dinosaurs crossing the wasteland. Moreover, everyone was in some level of mourning. Whenever remains were found, a horn was sounded, and all work stopped to recognize that another soul had passed. Most everyone working there had zero degree of separation from someone who was lost in the attack. It was no wonder it was difficult to get anyone’s attention to help save a shattered tree. This is what drove us to save the tree because there was absolutely nothing left alive in this massive pile of misery.
Most importantly, the timing for saving the tree was everything, the removals were happening at a breakneck pace. The basement levels were being exposed and the subway tunnel was uncovered. The area where the tree was located was soon to be demolished. The tree was located adjacent to a temporary truck ramp used to haul debris to Church Street. Not only was it a marvel of design and engineering, but it also displayed a cross section through the plaza and basement levels below where the fires still burned. The tree was in the plaza adjacent to this ramp and slated to go next. We had to move fast to avoid the demolition. Becky kept track of the area for fear it could disappear overnight. By attending the daily briefings Becky monitored the removal schedule to understand how much time we had to figure out how to salvage the tree.
Many times, we were made to feel we were being a nuisance for pursuing what appeared to be a frivolous effort to save a ragged stump most everyone thought was a lost cause. After three weeks of hustling and getting the run around, we were able to load the tree on November 9, 2001. I thought the date was fitting because it is the eve of the founding of the Marine Corp and our tree extraction was following the marine slogan, “improvise, adapt and overcome.’ I know that because at the time I was simultaneously completing a veteran’s memorial that was being unveiled the following week, but most importantly, it was my fifth wedding anniversary.
When the tree removal from Ground Zero was scheduled, we had to coordinate with the security on the perimeter. By this time, lower Manhattan had been transformed into a militarized zone. As the days went by, the security became more rigid and sophisticated. We had to call a few people and identify the park’s truck and the individuals that would be entering the security perimeter. The outside edge was a few blocks away, and I had to communicate with the driver to hand off ID cards for the truck to enter the work zone. I met the security guards and escorted the truck through the site barricades.
The tree was huge. The root ball alone had to be a few tons. The contractors did the best they could to ball and burlap the roots and lift what was left of the tree with a backhoe. Our specimen was stripped to the trunk with remains of seven shredded battered branches but appeared to be thriving with new leaves. We were happy to finally get the tree loaded on the parks truck and sent on its way. As the sun was setting, we collectively experienced an incredible sense of relief as we watched the tree on the parks rack truck drive away on Church Street.
Bobby Zappala was tasked to resurrect the tree. There was some speculation and concern that all would be for naught because the tree was so badly damaged. When the tree arrived at the Van Cortlandt Nursery after being stuck for two hours in rush hour it was dark and the men were exhausted. The tree was so huge that when it was taken off the truck it broke the lift gate. So, the rough handling added to the trauma. The concerns were further elevated when we saw the hard prune Bobby performed – removing the longest limbs. The branches that got the tree noticed in the first place had been decapitated. There was some initial shock, but I knew Bobby at this point for several years. I was confidant he was doing whatever it took to bring the tree back to health.
He explained that he made an extra-large tree pit with special soil mix and fed the roots. He pruned the tree to assure that the energy and nutrients with it would be dispersed equally. The tree needed to be structurally balanced so when it began to grow it would have a stable armature. After checking in on occasion, I felt rest assured we had done everything, and it was now just a waiting game for Spring.
The following Spring, I was happy to hear from Bobby that the tree branches were already growing. I was pleasantly surprised when I visited, the tree had formed a canopy. The tree still showed evidence of the horrible attack with dust and glass particles embedded in the bark. Later I was amazed to discover a Mourning Dove had taken nest in the tree. I was even more awe inspired when hatchings were found in the nest, and I thought how fitting it was to have baby chicks in the reborn tree. The wonder of nature’s marvelous ability to heal was on glorious display revealing a Divine spirit.