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

CENTRAL PARK, N.Y. (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 it was found to have Dutch Elm disease, a spokesperson for the Parks Department confirmed.

Dutch Elm disease is a fast moving fungus that can kill elm trees, forcing the parks department to remove it.

“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 said in a statement.

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

As of this past April, Central Park has about 1,600 elm trees, according to the Conservancy’s blog. However, park experts say it's now considered a rare specimen after many previous trees fell to Dutch Elm disease.