Storm Wreaks Havoc in Central Park
Published on Aug 19, 2009
The Central Park Conservancy announced today that due to storm damage, the Conservatory Garden, North Meadow Ballfields, West 100th Street Playground,and the East 110th Street Playground are closed. Hundreds of century-old trees in New York City's Central Park have been knocked down by a severe thunderstorm packing wind gusts as high as 80 mph and lightning.
The storm swept through the area Tuesday night, snapping trees in half while uprooting others. One tree lay across the tennis courts at West 96th Street, and a few lampposts stood at a slant after trees crashed into them.
Several parked cars were also destroyed when branches hurtled through the air and landed on them.
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe says the storm damage looks like pictures he's seen "of war zones where artillery shells have shredded trees."
The storm swept in after two days of temperatures above 90 degrees. The National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms could strike again Wednesday evening.
