New Orleans City Park Chief Executive Officer Bob Becker this weekend called the latest attempt to block construction of a $24.5 million golf complex an "act of vandalism and trespassing."

In response, the City Park for Everyone Coalition, a newly formed nonprofit organization fighting against the complex, called Sunday for "all parties to be respectful to one another."

Another protester occupied a tree in City Park Saturday (March 28) in an attempt halt the ongoing clearing of trees and bushes to prepare for that complex, which includes a new course that opponents say will illegally trample 5.5 acres of wetlands and forest.

The City Park for Everyone Coalition had filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming City Park officials had failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Acts, and sought an immediate halt to construction.

In a statement released Saturday evening, Becker said an "individual apparently vandalized the security fence around the site with three other individuals that were wearing masks. "One individual allegedly possessed at least two incendiary devices while establishing a position in a tree," Becker said. "The discovery of these incendiary devices has caused us and local law enforcement great concern for the safety of our visitors and the park itself.

"This criminal act comes after numerous incidents of individuals illegally destroying property and harming park grounds during the last two weeks."

He called on the City Park for Everyone Coalition "to join us in demanding an end to these illegal acts of vandalism."

City Park spokesman referred all questions Sunday about the "incendiary devices" to New Orleans police. NOPD spokesman Garry Flot in turn referred all questions on them to City Park police, saying they are "the lead on the investigation." City Park police could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

Responding to Becker, the coalition released its own statement Sunday saying in part, "We do not advocate or condone vandalism of park facilities, and we ask that it stop. "The people protesting by camping in trees are not part of our legal actions and protests," the coalition said. In terms of the "incendiary devices," the coalition stated "We find it curious that Mr. Becker used vague language that could include anything from a cigarette lighter to a laser-guided bomb."

"We don't condone violence and we hope that whatever these devices are, that no one was put at risk," the coalition said.

A man identified only as "Beaux" climbed the largest remaining oak tree within the construction site Saturday, according to the Facebook page for the City Park for Everyone Coalition. The coalition's Facebook post stated, "This is not an action of this Coalition, but we stand in solidarity with Beaux for his 1st Amendment rights to peacefully protest the destruction of Couturie Forest."

The coalition's Sunday statement said of Beaux and other recent protestors, "we support their point of view in so far as they appear to believe the construction is not properly permitted and in violation of various state and federal laws."

The coalition called on "City Park to cease all construction inside this area, in particular because of nesting migratory birds."

Two groups have formed in opposition to the project - the coalition and another group, Wild is Free, which appears to be a looser collection of individuals and often uses the #wildisfree on Twitter.

A video, described as a "communiqué from Beaux" posted Saturday on YouTube, carries that hashtag in its title.

The latest tree occupation came four days after the end of Jonathan "Lloyd" Boover's 12-day occupation of a different tree within the construction zone. Boover fell from the tree Tuesday (March 24) and was booked on charges of criminal trespassing and resisting an officer.

Becker said that in "the process of resolving" Boover's stand, that "City Park hired safety and security personnel to monitor" to monitor him and that City Park and the New Orleans Fire Department "provided medical care when he required it after falling out of the tree he occupied."

"These services cost City Park $1,000 per day," Becker said.

Becker said City Park authorities will pursue reimbursement for its costs from the suspected interlopers and also assist law enforcement agencies in prosecuting them.

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