Central Park (New York)

...complete without a stroll in Central Park. This 843 acre park stretches from 59th St at it's southern most point to 110 St in the north - some 51 blocks! The park like any big city park provides an oasis of peace and quiet sometimes needed in a hectic city. It is only once you are in the park it's self you realize how big it is and peaceful. Only when you look at the tree line do you realize as you see the Skyscrapers peering throw that you are indeed ...
...complete the oasis that is Central Park. The park was a picture of grandeur on it's opening.

Unfortunately as with any great park maintaince is the key. The elegance and some what opulent Central park by the 1930's was in a state of great disrepair and in need of a complete over haul due to neglect. It was only with the election of Mayor LaGuardia in 1934 that broke the corruption of New York politics and in a way saved Central Park ... more

No visit to New York would be complete without a stroll in Central Park. This 843 acre park stretches from 59th St at it's southern most point to 110 St in the north - some 51 blocks! The park like any big city park provides an oasis of peace and quiet sometimes needed in a hectic city. It is only once you are in the park it's self you realize how big it is and peaceful. Only when you look at the tree line do you realize as you see the Skyscrapers peering throw that you are indeed still in a major city. But it definitely offers that much needed tranquility as well as some wonderful sights to see. If you compare it with say Hyde Park in London then it shines out as a park that has something for everyone and you'll understand why New Yorkers are so proud of their oasis in the madness that is New York.

It was way back in 1856 that the New York city council paid some $5million for what was at that point swamp land after many of the city dignities had called for a park to be built on the lines of the great european parks in London and Paris. The park at this point was in an area of Manhattan that was largely unoccupied as most people lived below the 39th St level of Manhattan. Up until the opening of the park most New Yorkers if they wanted to experience a bit of greenery and rural ness took themselves off to the neighbouring borough of Brooklyn, their favourite haunt being the Brooklyn cemetery.

With the approval of the Greensward plans in 1858, the long task of actually building the commenced. During this time some 500,000 cubic feet of New Jersey top soil was used.More than 4 million trees,shrubs and plants were planted - in total 1400 different species which laid the basis for the future. 36 bridges and archways were built along with 4 man made water ways - all linked into the city water supply. In total some 10 million cart loads of goods were hauled into the park. It is no wonder that it took 20 years to complete the oasis that is Central Park. The park was a picture of grandeur on it's opening.

Unfortunately as with any great park maintaince is the key. The elegance and some what opulent Central park by the 1930's was in a state of great disrepair and in need of a complete over haul due to neglect. It was only with the election of Mayor LaGuardia in 1934 that broke the corruption of New York politics and in a way saved Central Park from becoming a wilderness again. LaGuardia appointed the well known Robert Moses to take over the 5 New York park departments. Moses inherited a Central park that in his words was "lawns, unseeded, were expanses of bare earth, decorated with scraggly patches of grass and weeds, that became dust holes in dry weather and mud holes in wet … The once beautiful Mall looked like a scene of a wild party the morning after. Benches lay on their backs, their legs jabbing at the sky." Within one remarkable year Moses managed to clean up the park even creating the area known as the Grand Lawn by emptying a derelict reservoir.

Moses was to be in charge of the New York Parks department for some 30 years. During this time Moses who was not a great lover of Omstead's( the original park planner) vision of a rural haven. Moses preferred recreational activities so during his reign he added to the park some 19 playgrounds, 12 ball parks and the Wolman rink. Moses also managed to secure funding from rich benefactors to build the Hans Christian Andersen and Alice in Wonderland sculptures and the Chess and Checkers house. Moses also renovated the Tavern on the Green and the Central Park Children's Zoo during this period.

Moses was to retire in 1960. This left the park without a defender. It also was the start of a 20 year decline in the park. The 1960's saw a park that was ravished by vandalism, concerts and peace rallies. The City council did little to maintain the park and it soon became a lawless place with broken fixtures, graffiti and general neglect of the plant life in the park. It was no longer a place to go if you wanted to snatch a little bit of peacefulness.It was a lawless place. It was not until the late 70's when the action groups to save the park were finally acknowledged that something was done to once again save the park from becoming a vandalized wilderness. In 1980 the Central Park Conservancy was founded.

The Central Park Conservancy throw out the 80's worked long and hard with the city council to save Central Park. Bonds were issued to raise money to restore the park and gradually the splendor was restored. The Central Park Conservancy has raised some $300 million during it's existence and has secured funding to maintain the park for another 20 years. No part of the park has been left untouched in their campaign to restore this park back to it's grandeur and opulence.

Central Park is one of those parks that has something for everyone. Due to the nature of it's size a whistle stop tour is only going to give you a small taste of the park. Should you want to walk all the walk ways throw the park it would involve some 58 miles. Even a walk around the outer perimeters would involve a 6 mile hike!

When I went in May all I wanted to see was the 2.5 acre site known as Strawberry Fields - the memorial to John Lennon.I'd not read up on the park, as a park is just a park isn't it? Not Central Park as I was to find out.I really wished now that I'd researched better what was actually in the park as it has so much more of interest.

~~Strawberry Fields~~
Location west side between 71st and 75th St.

Yoko Ono, donated $1million to the Central Park Conservancy for landscaping and maintaince of this 2.5 acre tear drop shaped parcel of park land. This area was chosen as it was an area of the park favoured by the Lennon's as it is near to the Dakota Buildings where they lived.

Strawberry Fields is a memorial garden to John Lennon.It was opened by the New York Mayor on 9th October 1985, what would have been Lennon's 45th birthday. But unlike other memorials you might have seen to the former Beatle this is actually very tasteful. The only thing that makes it obvious that this area is associated with Lennon is an ornate mosaic with the word IMAGINE in the middle.Around the mosiac in a circle are benches you can imagine over the years cuntless thousands of Lennon fans have sat on them in this tranquil spot paying their respects as I did. It is a very tranquil and peaceful place, designed to take notice of the original natural features there. The walk up to the mosaic takes you passed several rocky areas which luckily the designers saw fit to leave in place. A small plague shows the number of countries that have adopted the area as a so called peace garden. The area is also lined with great American elms, it gives you the impression of being somewhat higgledy piggledy but in all honesty I was grateful for that. I didn't want formal lawns or flower beds sown with plants spelling out Imagine or Lennon's name. I just wanted some place to be able to sit quietly and collect my thoughts.

As I said before my reason for visiting Central Park was solely to visit Strawberry Fields. It was whilst Iain ( Soho Black) and I walked across the southern part of the park that I realized how much more this park has to offer. The park is broken up into little areas each well signed posted. Along the way you'll also find many information boards telling you about certain attractions. The one thing I found was the fact this was a park for people, you'll not find any keep of the grass signs here! As you wander round the park you'll notice what is a rare sight in New York - children in buggies or toddling along holding a parents hand.I can honestly say the only other place I saw small kids was in the ToysRus store in Time Square. You see people just enjoying playing a game on the meny ball parks littered around the park and just generally chilling out. Couples walking holding hands just enjoying the peacefulness. One thing you don't see is litter unlike other parks I've been to.

~~Bethesda Terrace~~
Location: Mid park North of 72nd ST

It was whilst walking towards 5th Avenue that we came across the area known as the Bethesda Terrace. In the original plans Omstead had named this area the water terrace.It was to be an opulent area of the park with great walkways and wonderful ornate stone staircase leading down to a lake, at the centre of the lake was to be a fountain. All of this can still be seen today in it's full glory.The best view of the fountain has to be from the grandiose stone staircase leading down to the lakeside terrace.

It was with the unveiling of the ornate Angel of the Waters fountain ( sculptured by Emma Stubbins) that lead the area to be renamed the Bethesda Terrace. In an opening day leaflet a biblical quote likened the area to Bethesda is Jerauselem and the fountain to a healing fountain to cure the sick of New York. Should you ever find yourself in Central Park I really would suggest you visited this area yourself.

My walk in the park really was a whistle stop tour of the southern end of this great park. Whilst researching this opinion I came across other fascinating areas of the park that one day I hope to go back and see. These might give you a taster of what to expect if you should ever find yourself strolling in Central Park.

~~The Carousel~~
Location Mid park at 64th St
The carousel that now stands in Central Park is the 4th rebuild. When the first carousel was erected it was meet with some distain in some parts as it was thought that a commercial attraction would lower the tone of the park some what!

~~The Children's Zoo~
Location 5th Ave with 66th St.
The entrance to the Zoo also has a beautifully ornate entrance gate known as the Lehman gate. Named after it's benefactors Governor and Mrs.Lehman who donated the money in honour of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1960.

~~Mother Goose statue~~
Location: Near Rumsey playing field east 71st St.
This ornate statue of mother Goose was first erected in 1938 and managed to stand the ravishes of time pretty well.

~~The Bow bridge~~
Location: mid Park at 74th St West of Bethesda Terrace.
This sixty foot cast iron bridge has starred in many films. It was completed in 1862.

~~Alice in Wonderland sculpture~~
Location: east 74th st.
This José de Creeft sculpture was erected in 1959.

~~Belvedere castle~~
Location: Mid park 79th St
This was originally built as a Victorian folly, but is now home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. it is also next door to the out door theatre, which does plays during the summer months.

~~Conservatory garden~~
Location: 5th Ave and 105th St
This area is know as the gardens of Europe in Manhattan it takes it's name from a big glass conservatory that stood on the spot until it was demolished in 1934. This area is also popular with wedding parties.

~~Lasker rink and pool~~
Location: Mid park between 106th and 108th St.
During the summer months this is an open area pool. During the winter months it hosts an ice skating rink.

I'm sure if I ever do get to go back I'll find further fascinating areas of this park as I wander round looking for all of the above. Photographs and history of all the above attractions can be found on: www.centralparknyc.org

~~Getting around the park~~

This obviously has to be done on foot to fully appreciate the beauty of the park. All walkways I found were adequately paved and sign posted in the most part. Some areas did have a gradual incline but none were too steep.

The park does have internal roads, motor vehicles are banned during weekends.On weekdays they are banned from 10am-3pm and 7pm -10pm.But this does mean you could take a horse and carriage ride should you feel that way inclined. They can be found at the bottom end of the park near the 5th avenue and 7th avenue entrances.

~~Restaurants and Toilets~~
There are 20 restrooms dotted all over the park. Most are free to use and the one I used was clean.

You'll find various stalls dotted around the park along with 10 cafes and full Restaurants. The most famous being the Tavern on the Green restaurant.

~~Websites~~
www.centralparknyc.org
www.centralpark.org
www.nyctourist.com/central_park1.html

 

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