UPDATE: Friday at 11:45 a.m.: Following West Side Rag’s reporting earlier this week, Parks Department staff visited the leaning tree on Columbus Avenue between West 79th and 80th streets and got back to us with good news.
The forestry team found that what looked like the sidewalk crumbling from the roots of the tree, was actually “old asphalt” that had been left at the base of the tree for months following construction work at the American Museum of Natural History and the Teddy Roosevelt Park.
Kudos to WSR commenter LizG for theorizing exactly this in response to the first article.
Additionally, Parks Department determined that the elm tree did not cause the pavement to lift, and that the tree was found to be “structurally sound and in good condition.”
Before Parks Department removed the debris this week, it had been at the base of the tree for at least 6 months, according to Google Maps imagery.
Here’s what the area under the tree looks like now, as well as the slight lift in the pavement that does exist.
ORIGINAL STORY
By Gus Saltonstall
The roots of a leaning tree on a busy section of Columbus Avenue appear to have begun to lift and crumble the sidewalk.
The tree is located on Columbus Avenue between West 79th and 80th streets, which is where a new entrance to the American Museum of Natural History is located, and an entrance to Teddy Roosevelt Park.
In the five minutes that this reporter sat on a bench next to the tree, multiple dog owners had to pull their pups away from the debris, and multiple sets of running children coming out of the museum had to be loudly directed away from the rubble.
When asked by the Rag, a spokesperson for the Parks Department said that a “forestry crew will inspect the tree this week to determine the appropriate response.”
Repairs to lifted sidewalks are made by the Parks Department based on a ranking system that includes the severity of damage, the amount of pedestrian traffic in the area, and the size and condition of the tree.
During the inspection, the forestry crew will determine whether there is any active movement or lifting of the root plate, and if the tree is found to be compromised, it will be removed.
West Side Rag will update this article with the outcome of the inspection.
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Thanks DiBlasio!
lol
?!!
It’s not the only one in NY.
I think the tree is going to make like a tree and leave.
I hope they let it live. Our city trees are a precious – and scare – resource!
Maybe they’ll move it to a forest where it can live amongst it’s friends.
You know what they say: leaf and let leaf.
You do understand what happens if it falls, right? Into moving traffic? Over a well-used bike lane? There will be no 30 second warning. While no one wants to lose a tree, hopefully we can agree that we’d prefer not to lose a life!
With the hundreds of millions we spend on the inspections and reinforcement of failing building facades, why would anyone even question the danger presented by an unstable tree?
Trees are necessary for the environment and decorative, but even one injury, or God forbid, a fatality, is not worth it.
Building owners are spending their money on facades; it’s not your tax dollars.
Parks Department: recentbactive movement of the tree is plainly illustrated by this article’s picture. And that sidewalk has one of the highest concentration of little kids in the 10024 zip code.
Huh, I pass this almost every day and I assumed it was some unfinished construction, the debris isn’t the same material as the actual paving stones in that area
That’s what the article states, Liz.
This is true. It looks like that area might have been patched with blacktop in the past, and that’s what’s heaving now. There’s a similar-looking patch just a few feet south in the photo.
They better inspect before the Sunday farmers market which is always very busy with shoppers
It has been inspected several times by the parks department for either repairing the sidewalk or unfortunately removing the tree in due time. There’s no immediate threat at this time.
While I appreciate your assessment, can you point to an actual report by the parks department to verify your claim? Otherwise, it is heresay.
I have been watching this tree for the past year and have put orange cones there that keeps disappearing then no one would trip over the broken
sidewalk. It’s been getting worse. This is the worst I have seen and it is leaning to Columbus Avenue with all the rain we’ve just had this season.
The direction this tree will fall towards the building across the street and will do severe damages to the store fronts and residence.
It’s a beautiful old tree I’m sure well over 100 years old and gives much shade below, it is a shame, the tree must come down. Unfortunately It is a very old tree but also very healthy looking! It’s quite top-heavy, and just a matter of time…..
Let it live. Give the tree more root space.
The city has to do a better job managing the urban forest. Parks has virtually no arborists. Their immediate response to anything for the past 5 years has been to hack down perfectly viable trees. Get rid of the NYPD’s mounted unit, you’ll immediately have money for the arborists at Parks
Given its public location, this tree is likely toast . It’s obviously moving and will eventually fall.
Sadly, it’s time to start over with a new tree
Looks like no one wants to park their car in that big empty spot across from the tree.
That is between 79th & 80th by the way.
Updated, thank you!
I’ve just received word from the Parks department that they will cone it off while they’ll decide if the tree should be removed then no one will be tripping over the broken sidewalk.
Update: Parks Department will re-build a new sidewalk around that tree. They’ve already started the cleanup.
It’s either rebuild a sidewalk or build a new sidewalk.
This is happening all over the UWS, and probably elsewhere. The City simply does not gives trees enough room for their roots. Other than simply planting trees with narrower root systems, I’m not sure what can be done in this regard. We love, and need, our trees!
Please don’t overreact by chopping it down. It’s totally repairable and we need the old growth.
This tree is way over 100 years old and very healthy and I’m sure has many stories to tell…. if they can save it even build something around it to re-support it?
To see it go it’s going to hurt… so sad.
I think it might be possible to protect pedestrians by installing a bench/tree guard device that provides seating and a nicer tree pit. Furthermore, creative grafting and pruning might slow the leaning and give us a few more years of welcomed shade.
Parks Department is planting additional trees on this block and throughout NYC.
However must be noted that on some streets with narrow sidewalks, there is insufficient room for the trees to grow straight – they lean nearly from the outset.
Not good to plant trees in these circumstances.
All the spaces you see empty around the museum (81st St./CPW 77th St./Columbus Avenue) Will be filled with new trees later this spring/summer. 🌳
That tree is a goner.
No, it isn’t. In your dreams it’s staying put! We cleaned it up with the inspection people today.
Love trees!
But definitely concerned that the Parks Department is planting a ton of new trees on sidewalks – but Parks already struggles to maintain existing trees.
And sadly, in some areas, like FiDi and midtown, the new trees have become sites for trash….
a bit of good news