Winter's Work in Central Park

Winter is prime time for tree care in Central Park.

Spring and summer might be Central Park's busiest seasons, but that doesn't mean the Conservancy hibernates come winter.

"Maintaining Central Park is a year-round effort," says Neil Calvanese, the Conservancy's Vice President for Operations. "Every season has its work, and winter certainly has its fair share."

Playground Supervisor Mario Vaughan is among the Conservancy staff who maintain Central Park's 21 playgrounds.

Even when the mercury drops, you'll find Conservancy staff out in the Park maintaining playgrounds, clearing catch basins, de-icing paths and weeding the invasive vegetation that squeezes out native plants. 

One of the most important jobs the Conservancy tackles this time of year in Central Park is tree care. With most of the Park's 21,500 trees bare of their leaves, the Conservancy's arborists use these months to more closely survey their condition, pruning any dead or diseased branches to ensure the trees' health.

And while autumn is behind us, Central Park's leaf sweep usually continues well into winter. It's one of the biggest efforts the Conservancy undertakes all year in the 843-acre Park. The collected leaves are taken to the Mount, the Conservancy's composting operation in the north end of the Park, where it becomes the "black gold" that nurtures new plantings. Each year, more than 3,000 cubic yards of leaves are gathered at the Mount.

When snow falls on Central Park, the Conservancy is busy clearing the Park's 58 miles of pedestrian paths, spreading a salt-sand mixture on icy walks and sweeping its cobblestoned areas — all to make the Park's winter wonderland accessible to visitors.

So while the cold keeps many visitors indoors this season, the Conservancy is out everyday maintaining and prepping Central Park for its spring unveiling.