When the Prospect Heights Street Tree Task Force heard that Forest City Ratner Companies would cut twenty trees from the northern sidewalk of Pacific Street between Sixth Avenue and Carlton Avenue to make room for construction in the Vanderbilt rail yard, its members joined a chorus of other community members and elected officials in protest. 

Unfortunately, nothing could prevent the loss of Pacific Street's trees. However, the Task Force was able to salvage twelve iron tree guards from Pacific Street for relocation. The tree guards were previously purchased and installed by the board of the Newswalk building, which then had no way to reuse them following FCRC's sidewalk demolition. Members of the Task Force coordinated with Newswalk and FCRC to save the guards, and on Friday, April 26, volunteers installed twelve guards into tree pits on Vanderbilt Avenue. Through a grant administered by PHNDC, the Task Force hired a welder to resize the tree guards for pits on Vanderbilt Avenue. The remaining eight guards were given to residents on Carlton Avenue.