By Gus Saltonstall
A large tree went crashing to the ground sometime Monday evening in Riverside Park.
The fallen tree is down just north of the entrance to the park at West 72nd Street.
There are no reports of any injuries.
West Side Rag visited the site Tuesday morning for photos.
The tree was still untouched as of 10 a.m.
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Now I know I am not a morning person. And I really thought I was. I walked my dog this morning between 6:45am-7am, entered the park at 72nd and RSD, took her to the dog run and totally did not see this.
Surprised you didn’t twig, when your dog was chasing squirrels. Of course maybe it was barking up the wrong tree.
A large tree also fell in Riverside just inside at 79th a few weeks ago.
The roots on the tree appear to be shallow and dead. The park needs to check all their trees for root rot asap. This is scary.. it’s also sad. I hate it when we lose a tree, especially the older ones.
Both the New York City Department of Parks and the Riverside Park Conservancy have for too long neglected the health of the ecology in the park. This will not be the last tree to fall.
Agree. Riverside Park has been completely ignored by the city now for a few administrations.
Tree still laying on. its side at noon.
Riverside Park needs a lot more attention and maintenance..
A big tree falls in RSP.
Did it make a sound?
A tree grows in Brooklyn. A tree dies in Manhattan.
I was waiting for someone to say something like this!!!
So sad to lose a tree. Hope a few more will planted in its stead. And yes, park management needs to check on the roots of other trees – this one fell because its roots were dead.
If a tree falls in Riverside Park in December does anyone hear?
it’s surprising to see the small roots, there’s not much that did hold up the tree. Were the roots rotten ?
could it be dog urine over a long period of time made the tree sick
There need to be arborists and landscapers hired ASAP for the parks. Riverside Park is being run into the ground and the conservancy is inadequate. We are going to lose a LOT of mature trees otherwise
beyond the trees we lose, one of these could badly injure or even kill someone. and of course the impending lawsuit would wipe out any money they think they are saving by not paying for proper maintenance.
Pardon my pun, but Riverside Parks needs to go got back to it’s roots. It’s been neglecting it’s trees and gardens while pursuing flashy infrastucture projects and fancy work vehicles.
Everyone is expecting the city to care for everything for free while yelling about NYC taxes being too high – the parks budget was just cut… – the folks at the Conservacy of Central Park got a whole lot wiser, stopped crying and jumped in to help – soooooo
What? The conservancy doesn’t do any of the arboral work. They also don’t work on the park infrastructure or fill the yawning sinkholes that’ve opened up on the upper levels.
Our tax money goes to parks. The Conservancy is not involved in the capital projects required to keep the park functioning. I’d rather see the city budget appropriately – and the councilmembers advocate for that work to be done – rather than put $$ into an unaccountable 501c3
It took my breath away! When I walked by there around 1pm this afternoon, there was yellow tape all around the tree, which is closer to 73rd St. There were no park workers anywhere to be found. I wonder how they’re going to remove this giant.
Chainsaws and a woodchipper.
If you are concerned that Riverside Park is neglecting preventive maintenance in favor of elective or frivolous undertakings, are you telling them directly, in addition to mentioning it here? Also, if you value the park, consider supporting the Riverside Park Conservancy if you don’t already, or upping your donations. I consider it well worth a dollar a day so they get $30 from me every month.
I’ve been volunteering in Riverside Park (first with the Fund, then the Conservancy) for 20 years, and one of the things I have begged them, and the Parks Dept., to do is start a maintenance pruning/check program for the trees, especially the large, mature, old ones. They made a big deal about treating for Dutch Elm disease way back when, but the oaks, lindens, London planes, gingkoes, etc., are largely ignored until they are in such poor shape they either fall, or have large branches falling out which might injure someone (Lawsuit!!!). It’s cheaper for them to simply cut trees down (or let them fall and remove them), and replace them with new, young trees, than it is for them to maintain the trees already in the Park. It’s too bad we are losing all of these old trees, when a little regular care would keep them going for many years to come.
They’ve been doing precisely that – cutting down the older trees – rather than pruning them. It’s a sin
Did it make a sound? Absolutely.
How do I know you ask?
Because it started to fall while I was under / next to it with my dog Monday evening. I was taking him out per our usual evening routine when we heard a strange noise (thought someone was rolling a luggage case across cobblestone) then looked up and it began to fall and we immediately sprinted a few feet and barely dodged it. It was quite shocking. I called 311 immediately thereafter to report the fallen tree.
I’m trying not to think about what would have happened to us had I had my headphones in (as I usually do), if I was immobile, or if this occurred to someone else.
I realize it’s impossible to prevent this from happening all the time but I am a bit in disbelief that this did (actually) occur or wondering if there was neglect from the responsible group(s) (especially by looking at the roots, or lack thereof).
West Side Rag, we need a revision with a fuller re-telling from 72nd resident! What a close call. I’m glad you and your dog got out unharmed.
Wow! I never thought about a giant tree falling on me when walking my dog. New fear unlocked. I’m glad you and dog are okay, but I am sure you were very shaken up by this incident. Hopefully the park will take better care of the trees. So sad the tree died :’(
Thank you! Yeah I never thought this would happen to me… definitely has made me more vigilant of what could happen with mother nature on a daily basis.
Glad you and your dog are OK! How scary! I often worry about this happening when walking in the park and thought I was being paranoid.
Thank you Debster!