American elm chainsaw massacre

Parks workers chopped up and removed the remains of the stricken American elm in Tompkins Square Park. 

However, it wasn't easy. East Village resident Joe Kay shared this photo, noting "that elm ate one of their chainsaws!"

Post-mortem on the freshly cutback American elm in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by and reporting by Stacie Joy 

On Tuesday, the Parks Department cut back the drooping American elm inside the Seventh Street entrance to Tompkins Square Park between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Before this happened, I had reached out to urban forestry expert Georgia Silvera Seamans, founder of Local Nature Lab. (Read her initial response here.) 

As she's out of town, I sent her several of the photos of the trimmed back tree. Her response: "Looks like there was a major crack in a large branch. It also looks like staining from Dutch Elm Disease on the left front branch."

Thursday's parting shot

Sorry if you missed the five-star sex advice today in Tompkins Square Park... (thanks to Sonya for the photo!)

Parks Department prunes drooping elm in Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Top pic Sunday by EVG 

7/25 — Update here.

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Visitors to Tompkins Square Park over the weekend noticed something amiss with one of its older residents: a large American elm just inside the Seventh Street entrance between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Several low-hanging branches appeared drooped or stressed, prompting speculation among locals about whether the tree might be suffering from Sudden Branch Drop (SBD), a phenomenon that can affect mature trees in the summer months. 

But not so fast, says urban forestry expert Georgia Silvera Seamans. 

"From the photos on EVG, it looks like there is some kind of torsion on the leftmost branch from the trunk," said Silvera Seamans, founder of Local Nature Lab and an expert in urban tree health. "This could have been caused by an imbalance in weight on the left side of the tree compared to the overall tree. The crotch — the gap between the branches where they split from the trunk — could be weak." 

Without examining the elm in person, she cautioned against jumping to conclusions but suggested the issue may be more structural than seasonal. 

"It also looks like two branches are rubbing together," she added. "My bet is something structural, which could be related to weight, age, or disease." 

As for whether the elm can be saved, Silvera Seamans said that it depends on what a professional arborist finds during an in-person inspection. 

"Branches could be pruned to lighten the load, heavier branches supported with tree braces, upper branches could be cabled," she said. 

Following our conversation, I walked by the tree to find that the Parks Department had cut it back yesterday — hopefully a sign that the elm will remain a healthy fixture in the park for years to come.

Concern for this drooping American elm in Tompkins Square Park

There's caution tape around one of the majestic American elms in Tompkins Square Park, just inside the mid-block entrance on Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

EVG reader Kate, who also sent in a photo, noted that the tree's branches are drooping noticeably now....

The tree map, provided by the Parks Department, indicates that it was inspected in February, with an unspecified service performed in May.

Here's hoping it just needs some pruning — and not something more serious.

Sunday's parting shots

This evening from Tompkins Square Park... and on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo by James Chambers 

One of the juvenile red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park today plotting its next move...

Saturday's opening shot

At the 7th and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park. 

And cutting and pasting this Saturday forecast from The Weather Channel: "A shower or two possible this morning with partly cloudy skies for the afternoon. High 83F. Winds light and variable."

Hawkward teen phase: Young red-tailed hawks settle into Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

The three juvenile red-tailed hawks continue to explore their new home in Tompkins Square Park, seemingly unbothered by this week's inferno. (There are puddles to help.) 

The young ones are entertaining, learning how to use those things called wings...

Here's a recent photo of a post-clumsy exchange between mother Amelia (on the left) and one of the offspring... they are looking at the dinner rat that plummeted to the main lawn.

As Goggla documented (here and here), the hawklets are honing their skills, from learning to hunt ... balancing on tree limbs ... and staring down pesky squirrels. 

This is the first brood for Amelia, the resident female red-tailed hawk in Tomkins Square Park, and her new male companion, aka M2. This marks Amelia's eighth season raising chicks in Tompkins. 

Tompkins Square Park mini pool springs a leak — but still set to open Friday

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After a brief delay, the long-dormant mini pool in Tompkins Square Park is expected to reopen this Friday, following minor repairs and final inspections. (Updated 6/27: The pool is now open.)

Park staff filled the pool with water last week, as we first noted here, but parkgoers soon noticed it had been drained again. 

According to the Parks Department, two leaks — one along a seam and another in the circulation line — were discovered and repaired late Friday into Saturday morning. The epoxy used in the fix needed time to fully cure before the pool could be refilled and cleared for use.

Between the pandemic and field house renovations, the pool has been out of commission for years, and there was some sinking in the back that had to be leveled, according to a Parks Department employee. 

The city will inspect the site tomorrow. Barring any issues, the pool is still on track to open to the public on Friday at 11 a.m. 

The pool, restricted to use by children and their guardians, will operate in two daily sessions: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., with a one-hour afternoon break for cleaning.

"A lot of families are pleased with the community revitalization area, and we hope families will be happy with the pool," a Parks Department employee told us. "We've made great strides and improvements getting the area ready. It will be used by kids and families; Tompkins is a family-oriented location." 

A tent and a table will be installed at the pool entrance this week to prepare for the opening.

In case you are looking for the Sing for Hope piano in Tompkins Square Park

The Sing for Hope piano that has temporarily taken up residence in Tompkins Square Park has a new home. You can now find it over by the entrance to the basketball courts and mini pool. (H/T Steven!)

It first arrived on June 9 near Temperance Fountain. We don't know why someone moved it. 

This year's piano, designed by Kate Fauvell, will be here through June 29.

Tompkins Square mini pool makes a big summer return

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

For the first time in several years, the Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a mini pool) will be open to the public. 

City pools open next Friday, June 27, including Dry Dock on 10th Street and Hamilton Fish on Pitt Street.

This week, Parks employees filled the mini pool, reserved for kids and their guardians. (In other words, no adults without a child!)

New this year (aside from renovated restrooms), hooks along the fence to hang your TUMI Voyageur Patricia backpack, Anya Hindmarch I Am A Plastic Bag water bottle holder and Prada terrycloth scrunchie. (Working on our brand-dropping influence!)

Also new this year is the warning about breath-holding contests...

...to go along with the existing staples...

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with a closure between 3-4 p.m. for cleaning. 

The pool initially closed during the pandemic and remained out of service due to a lack of bathroom access while the park's field house was under renovation for the past two summers. 

It's unknown if this might be the last summer for the TSP mini pool. 

Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants through the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. As part of that, Tompkins Square Park was awarded $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the capacity of the current above-ground trailer park model. 

A start date for construction on the new pool has not been announced yet.

Keys to the city: The Sing for Hope piano has arrived in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

The 2025 Sing for Hope pianos are out in the wild... including in Tompkins Square Park. [Updated: The piano has been moved to near the entrance to the basketball courts.]

Background! 

Sing for Hope is an NYC-based nonprofit founded in 2006 by opera singers Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora. The two vocalists established Sing for Hope as a resource for New York artists who want to use their art to give back to their community, and the program fosters interaction between artists and communities and makes the arts accessible to the public. 

The Sing for Hope Pianos project brings (one-per-key) artist-painted pianos for three weeks in June each year since 2011 to parks, street corners, subways, and other outdoor public spaces of the five boroughs of New York City.

Artist Kate Fauvell created the designs on the Tompkins piano, titled "Human Kind." Read more about it here.

The piano, one of 15 in the five boroughs, will be here through June 29. 

After their public residency, the pianos will find permanent homes in schools, hospitals and community-based organizations throughout the city.

Also, as far as we can recall, this is the first piano for Tompkins since 2018.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Today in Tompkins Square Park... during one of the 7-8 downpours today...

Tompkins Square Park hawklet watch continues

The Tompkins Square Park hawk chicks continue to GROOOW. 

Mark Hado shared these photos this week, with the top taken via an iPhone through 16 power binoculars. 

As hawk documentarian Goggla noted in her last post, the offspring "suddenly go from little fuzz balls to serious-looking raptors." 

See below! 

This is the first brood for Amelia, the resident female red-tailed hawk in Tomkins Square Park, and her new male companion, aka M2. (This marks Amelia's eighth season raising chicks in Tompkins. )

Meanwhile, the fledge watch continues. As always, check out Goggla's site for updates.

Tuesday's parting shot

Early evening from Tompkins Square Park...

ICYMI: In Tompkins Square Park, Amelia and her new mate welcome first brood together

ICYMI: Amelia, the resident female red-tailed hawk in Tomkins Square Park, and her new male friend have three chicks in their nest this spring. 

Mark Hado shared these photos this past week...

Given how quickly the hawklets grow on that steady diet of pigeons and rats, they are likely 2x this size by now. 

As Goggla has documented, all three of the hawklets appear to be doing well. This is the first family for the new male this year (going as M2, per Goggla). This marks Amelia's eighth season raising chicks in Tompkins. 

Visit Goggla's site for a primer on M2 (link) ... and the latest on the kids. 

We'll be on fledge watch in the next few weeks. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Concern grows for Christo, Tompkins Square Park's iconic red-tailed hawk, missing for 2 weeks

Fresh sod and DanceFest crowds come together in Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Just days before one of the biggest events of the year in Tompkins Square Park, the Parks Department started re-sodded parts of the main lawn — only for the area to be walked on by festivalgoers and other parkgoers during Saturday's DanceFest, the celebration that follows the annual Dance Parade. 

Despite signs and barriers indicating the lawn was off-limits, the area quickly started filling up with people on one of the spring's summeriest days.

"It was locked earlier today and people don't listen — they hopped the fence," Amy Taylor, the crew chief at Tompkins Square Park, said on Saturday. "The hose is still out there, equipment and the sod too." 

When told the gate was open and the lawn was filling up, Amy reiterated that the area was "technically and officially closed" and said she did not know who had unlocked it. 

Workers had spent three days seeding and laying sod ahead of the weekend. As for why the work was scheduled so close to a major event: "I don't know. No one told me anything." 

Now, the question lingers: Will the newly sodded lawn survive the summer — or will the Parks Department be back to square one? 

And a look yesterday at the lawn, now with caution tape on the freshly sodded areas...

A soggy day for new sod

Photos by Steven 

If you were in Tompkins Square Park earlier today, you likely noticed the stacks of sod near the field house. (Thanks to everyone who emailed about this.)

Apparently, some of the sod didn't grow in behind the renovated building, so the reinforcements have arrived...

Updated: Looks like Park workers will be putting sod on the main lawn too (though maybe they should wait until after DanceFest on Saturday).

Saturday's opening shot

Photo from Tompkins by James Chambers 

Partly sunny and breezy with a high of 75 today, per local weather sources. Tomorrow, Mother's Day, looks to be the same but maybe even nicer.