“It’s disappointing that an agreement could not be reached between the two parties. The City tried to play the role of honest broker, but the two sides remain far apart. We can’t – and won’t – wait any longer for a resolution with no guarantee that one will come.

“We’ll solicit new proposals with labor obligations from anyone that wants to re-open it as a restaurant. During that period, which will last several months, we’ll use the venue as a visitor center and snack bar, similar to the successful Central Park Dairy, and also a retail shop. The City will put in the resources to stabilize the building and make it suitable for those uses. Then, based on the proposals and the success of the venue as a visitor center and store, we’ll decide whether or not to turn all or part of it back into a restaurant.

“Tavern on the Green is a New York City landmark known the world over, and we’re committed to maintaining an active use there in one form or another for the 35 million visitors to Central Park every year and all New Yorkers.”