
By Gus Saltonstall
The large tree that fell in Riverside Park on Monday night is still down as of Wednesday morning.
A spiral of sunlight beamed down on the wooden corpse about 11 a.m., evoking questions of a possible tree afterlife.
While the tree might still be fallen, multiple Parks Department vehicles were circled around it this morning, and yellow caution tape had been wrapped along the majority of it.

There has not been a report of any injuries as a result of the fallen tree, but one West Side Rag commenter said it was a frighteningly close call on Monday night.
“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,” the commenter wrote on the Rag’s first story about the tree. “It was quite shocking. I called 311 immediately thereafter to report the fallen tree.”
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be nice if Park Dept. would cut those branches into fireplace size logs and leave them for the taking.
Here’s a chain saw for you, you can use it for jobs within your apartment after you’ve cut your firewood.
http://www.homedepot dot com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-14-in-18V-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Battery-Top-Handle-Chainsaw-Kit-with-8-0-Ah-12-Ah-Battery-Rapid-Charger-2826-22T/323435609
Don’t forget to let the wood dry before you use it.
Those lithium batteries are dangerous. Nothing like a good old gas powered chain saw.
No, tool lithium ion batteries are not especially dangerous, unless you like drive a screw into one.
What is dangerous in an NYC apartment, storing gasoline.
You’ll also likely need a log splitter.
It would be nice if people stopped burning things that kill the earth and used clean electricity instead.
Nice if clean electricity existed. Well, it does, but you can’t have that technology.
Nope, it ain’t solar, wind, hydro.
Unless the powers of West Side Rag reverse the laws of gravity, do believe said tree shall remain down.
This really was the best headline ever:)
I just want to let WSR know how much I enjoy Gus’ writing. He has reinvigorated the Rag and made it even more important reading. Thank you!
Why did the tree come down? There was no strong wind to topple it. What was wrong with the root system that after all these years, it would fall down. We need a post-mortem.
The RSC doesn’t believe in soil maintenance.
In other words, hard packed soil ain’t good for trees, and grass.
Hear that, Gus? Start digging:)
Where in Riverside Park did the tree fall? Was it 72nd Street or 116th Street? Riverside Park is miles long.. I read the article several times, and still don’t know where the tree is. How about a little more accuracy in your reporting? This isn’t the first time I have noticed sloppiness or laziness in one of your articles. You need to remember the essential 5 “ws” of journalism: who, what,where, when and why.
In one of your several times reading, you didn’t notice the hyperlink to the original story?
Two links: one in the first line, the other in the last graph, of this story. Very helpful to interested, attentive (ahem) readers 😉
This is a follow up to an article titled :
Big Tree Falls in Riverside Park Near West 72nd Street.,
I hope this cleared things up for you.