Beware of Falling Branches In New York City Parks
The news reported on the tragic death of a 6-month old girl at the Central Park Zoo last week. The little girl's mother was also critically injured when a tree branch 30 feet above a busy path broke and fell on them while they were posing for a picture. This is the latest of a string of incidents that have occurred in the park over the last year. In February, a falling branch struck and killed a 46 year old man and last July another park visitor was struck by a falling tree branch, causing serious injuries.
The park has over 26,000 trees, a number which makes it impossible for every tree to be inspected, especially since the Central Park Conservancy, the group responsible for the maintenance of the trees in the park, spends around $500,000 annually on tree maintenance. Even when an inspection catches a tree that needs maintenance, the delay in taking action can be deadly. The tree that the branch fell from in the February accident was targeted as a danger in December of 2009. Not until after the fatal accident was it actually removed. It's limbs were weakened by the weight of a recent snowstorm.
What is especially troubling is that it is not clear who is responsible for the maintenance of these trees. The branch that fell at the zoo belonged to a tree that either the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo, or the Central Park Conservancy was required to maintain. The lack of clear responsibility usually means that some trees are being overlooked, turning them into potentially deadly time bombs.
At Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island, another frightening accident occurred when a U.S Marine Corps V-22 Osprey, a hybrid airplane/helicopter, blew down tree branches while it was performing maneuvers for a Memorial Day air show. The branches injured over a dozen people. In this incident, the branches that fell were not weakened but blown down by the force of the blast. The trees in the park are the responsibility of the New York City Parks Department and a quick search of the Internet did not produce any reports of falling tree branch injuries in Clove Lakes park.
When you are outside, be aware of the weather. Although these accidents do not appear to weather related, a strong, gusty summer thunderstorm can cause a branch to fall down. When you are caught in a thunderstorm, don't hide under a tree. Despite the increased chance of the tree being struck by lightning, the chance of a falling limb dramatically increases. If you have any large trees that adjoin your property, it is a good idea to have them examined and pruned by a professional tree company. If you wait to find out that your tree is weakened, its usually after a large branch has fallen, possibly causing a serious injury to your family, your guests or your neighbors.
