The body of a 69-year-old man was found under a tree in Central Park on Thursday, June 2, 2016. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Valeria Ricciulli

CENTRAL PARK — The body of a 69-year-old man, who police believe may have been homeless, was found under a tree in Central Park not far from Columbus Circle Thursday afternoon.

A park worker saw the man alive in the area around 7 a.m., according to Deputy Inspector Kelly from the Manhattan North Precinct. But park-goer Joseph Hurt, 40, told DNAinfo New York he was sitting in the shade in the park shortly before 1:45 p.m. when he realized the man was dead.

NYPD officials covered the body in a white sheet and cordoned off the area with yellow tape Thursday afternoon.

"We have a tentative identification of this male that appears to be homeless," based on a receipt found in the 69-year-old's pocket, Kelly said.

The NYPD had not released the name of the man as of Thursday evening. His death was not immediately considered suspicious.