Madison Square Park

Madison Square was officially established in 1837. It is first shown on a map of New York City in the Colton Map of 1841. The Parks Department was given control of the land in 1847. The first actual plan for the new park’s design appears in the Dupp plan of 1851. It is likely that the English elms, including the two of which survive to this day, were planted at this time, at nodes along the formal plan.

The park originally had 10 large ancient English elms and only two remain today. The two remaining elms have had their crowns dramatically reduced in order to keep them safe, but their large girth and considerable branching grace the park.