Perhaps they wanted to make the view great again.
Two unknown vandals took landscaping at the Trump Links at Ferry Point golf course in Throggs Neck into their own hands earlier this month when they used a chainsaw to cut down several mid-sized trees located on the edge of the course.
The trespassers cut down four trees, all approximately 30-feet high, according to a spokesperson from the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information’s office.
The vandalism was discovered by golf course management at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9.
Surveillance video from the golf course caught the men climbing over the fence protecting the range near the intersection of Miles and Robinson avenues.
The brazen amateur landscapers left their chainsaw behind.
The fence surrounds the entire perimeter of the course along Miles Avenue, and the targeted trees were located just over it.
Stumps remained at the scene, as did several large branches.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and no arrests have been made, according to police.
A similar incident occurred in February when another person entered the course and cut down a tree, course manager Joe Roediger said in published reports.
Several calls to the Trump Organization for comment were not returned by press time.
Throggs Neck Homeowners Association president Lynn Gerbino said she knew of no other such incidents involving the course, nor any animosity towards the course from neighborhood residents.
“I don’t know who did it or why, but I hope they find out,” she said.
Community Board 10 chairman Martin Prince said the purpose of the vandalism was anyone’s guess, but if it was intended as some sort of protest against the controversial 45th President of the United States it likely fell on deaf ears.
“The only people they hurt is us in the community,” Martin said. “Those trees are part of our park – that course is (NYC) Parks property.”
The golf course has been the site of a very public tug of war between the Trump Organization and the mayor’s office over a 19.5-acre parcel of waterfront land adjacent to the course the city hopes to convert to passive park space.
The Trump organization wants to use the land to expand the 18th hole and is offering another nearby parcel in exchange for the public’s use.
The parks department has insisted it plans to follow through with its original plans.
Prince said the board has maintained a good relationship with the course’s management despite the dispute.
The incident occurred just across the street from a development of five 3-story brick homes still under construction on Miles Avenue.
A man at the site who identified himself as the construction manager said he knew little of the incident.
The downed trees, in his opinion, did more harm to the view then good.
“In all honesty, I actually prefer the trees,” he said.
