Hundreds of Riverside Park's Trees were Destroyed or Damaged - for the Second Time in Just over a Year!

New York City was hit by a brief but violent thunderstorm Tuesday night, August 18, and, as in the last big storm on June 10, 2008, more than 100 of Riverside Park’s trees were destroyed or damaged. Parks Department Forestry crews from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn began cleaning up in Riverside Park around 2:00 a.m. Wednesday. The work continues and Riverside Park Fund is providing private forestry crews and equipment to work side-by-side with Parks.

Riverside Park staff have been working non-stop to clear debris and make paths and stairs passable. Riverside Park Fund’s ParkTenders and volunteers have been providing incredible support in horticultural areas. Even tot-lot parents stepped up and offered to help sweep. Thank you all!

Current estimates are that at least 65 trees are down or will have to be cut down due to irreparable damage, and hundreds more have lost limbs. Because there are still many broken and hanging limbs, the Parks Department has temporarily closed a number of paths and a large area of the Park between 100th and 120th Streets as a safety precaution. Crews will continue to work to remove damaged trees and hanging limbs over the next few days so the Park can be fully reopened, and cleanup will continue for some time. Click here to see more photos of the storm damage.

Over the past three years, the Fund has hired private contractors to prune hundreds of the Park’s trees under the supervision of Parks Department foresters, and this tree maintenance helped reduce the damage we incurred Tuesday night. We must continue this important work.

At times like these, your contributions are crucial! Please support the Fund’s ongoing tree care program!