CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (PIX11) — After 160 years, a legendary tree is being cut down in Central Park.
The centuries-old elm tree near the legendary Tavern on the Green restaurant is set to be removed after park officials discovered it was suffering from Dutch elm disease.
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Dutch elm disease is a rapidly spreading fungus that can kill elm trees.
“NYC Parks’ top priority is preserving existing trees, and tree removal is always our last resort. To minimize the spread of the disease to the other elm trees in the city, immediate action will be taken, resulting in the tree’s removal,” a spokesperson said in a statement to PIX11 News on Thursday.
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To prevent further spread of Dutch elm disease to surrounding trees, the Central Park Conservancy and NYC Parks cut the bark of the infected tree before removing it completely.
According to the Conservancy’s blog, there were about 1,600 elm trees in Central Park in April, but park experts say the elm is now considered a rare specimen after many trees fell victim to Dutch elm disease.
Dominique Jack is a Brooklyn-based digital content producer with more than five years of experience in news reporting. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here.
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