New York City's tallest tree record is 20 years old — LiDAR reveals bigger candidates
New York City should carefully measure a new tree
The Queens Giant, New York City's tallest carefully measured tree, was last measured in 2004 at 133.8 feet. Using 2021 LiDAR data from The Nature Conservancy and the University of Vermont, the author identifies four trees that may exceed that height, including one in Van Cortlandt Park estimated at 156–160 feet. The post suggests the parks department should verify these candidates before any are accidentally cut down.
Is it silly to find the tallest tree in NYC? Yeah, it's pretty silly. But would you want the tallest tree to be cut down by accident?
- prattmic
I wonder how accurate the locations are in this LiDAR dataset and/or the Queens Giant Wikipedia article. The Alley Pond Park candidate looks suspiciously close to the the Queens Giant, so I wonder if it's actually picking the same tree?
- paulkrush
Lidar is an awesome way to find tall trees!
- rvba
such lists just provide a list of targets for some assholes who will cut the trees