ENTS,

Finally went up to look at the terrible damage to trees in the
northwestern section of CP after a violent storm.

The clean-up work is going quickly so, the most prominent trees have
already been cut, but as I ventured into the less populated parts, I
got a better idea. Then my sandal broke and I couldn't continue
traipsing around barefoot so my mission was incomplete!  -Jenny

(Oh, the article mentions that some famous elm trees were destroyed,
and, while some elm trees may have been destroyed, not the 'famous'
ones that run along an esplanade.)

pix: http://picasaweb.google.com/ennifDudley/CentralParkSotormDamage81909?feat=directlink#

slide show http://picasaweb.google.com/JennifDudley/CentralParkSotormDamage81909?feat=directlink#slideshow/5375058162373490706

Here is short AP story >

Central Park's storm damaged trees to be mulched
Associated Press - August 20, 2009 10:45 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City official says hundreds of trees in
Central Park were so badly damaged in this week's storm that they will
have to be mulched.

The storm swept through the urban oasis on Tuesday night, snapping
some of the Manhattan park's famous American elm trees in half and
uprooting others. Officials say between 500 and 600 trees were
severely damaged.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe says the wood can't be reused as
firewood or turned into furniture or lumber. He says Manhattan,
Brooklyn, Queens and parts of Staten Island are part of the Asian
longhorned beetle quarantine area and any dead or damaged trees have
to be chipped up. /p>

Officials estimate it will cost at least $500,000 to replace the
ppark's destroyed trees.