The storm that ripped through northern sections of Central Park on August 18 may have lasted mere moments, but it left a trail of damage that will take months for the Central Park Conservancy to repair. Immediately following the storm, crews began canvassing the Park to assess the damage. More than 200 trees fell, with hundreds more damaged. Tree canopies were simply wiped away. The most severe damage occurred between 90th and 100th Streets, including a 40" London Plane tree which fell across the East Drive. The Central Park Conservancy deployed 60 operations staff and 17 contractor crews to remove debris and secure affected tree limbs.

As always, public safety is the Conservancy's primary concern. Due to storm damage, the East 110th Street Playground and the West 100th Street Playground are closed. The Conservancy is working to re-open the drives and pedestrian pathways. Our experts immediately responded to the emergency and will re-open landscapes for public enjoyment in a timely manner.

The staggering cost of clean-up is estimated at several hundred thousand dollars, but it is impossible to attach a monetary figure to some of the losses. "We had a wonderful chestnut tree at 100th Street and Central Park West," said Neil Calvanese, VP of Operations for the Central Park Conservancy. "Records indicate the tree was planted by the Park's designer, Frederick Law Olmsted, more than 150 years ago." The tree was devastated by the storm and will be removed.

While the damage is devastating, it will create opportunities in some of the affected landscapes.
Mr. Calvanese, who began working as a tree climber in the Park more than 20 years ago, said, "A park is always evolving, that's the nature of this place. We'll replant and we'll redevelop these beloved landscapes."

Join the Central Park Conservancy in its efforts by donating to the storm repair. Visit www.centralparknyc.org to learn how you can help, or go straight to our donation form.