Photos: Historic tree chopped down in Greenport

Locals said goodbye to a giant friend Wednesday, when a Greenport Village work crew chopped down a historic tree on Third Street.

Greenport Mayor David Nyce said Thursday that pieces of wood from the tree will be given to several local artists, who will create a work of art from it. They’ve been asked to document it as they go along in the process. Mayor Nyce said the art will be auctioned off next year to benefit the tree committee in Greenport.

Lifelong Greenport resident James McKnight said he was sad to see the tree, which used to shade a basketball court at the park there, go.

Mayor Nyce explained that the tree was a hazard and that they were taking it down before it fell down and caused damage.

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