160-year-old tree to be cut down from Tavern on the Green

CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (PIX11) — After 160 years, a legendary tree will be cut down in Central Park.

The century-old elm tree at the iconic Tavern on the Green restaurant will be removed after the Parks Department determined it has Dutch Elm disease.

Dutch Elm disease is a fast-moving fungus that can kill elm trees.

“NYC Parks prioritizes preserving existing trees, and tree removal is always our last resort. In order to minimize the spread of the disease to the other elm trees across the city, immediate actions will be taken, resulting in the removal of the tree,” a spokesperson told PIX11 News in a statement Thursday.

To prevent the further spread of Dutch Elm disease to surrounding trees, the Central Park Conservancy and NYC Parks have cut through the bark of the infected tree before its full removal.

Central Park had about 1,600 elm trees in April, according to the Conservancy’s blog. However, park experts say it’s now considered a rare specimen after many trees fell to Dutch Elm disease.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here .

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