Now seemingly as natural as the Hudson River, Central Park's 843 acres were not always indigenous to Manhattan; the park was actually designed and constructed over the course of 15 years, using 500,000 cubic feet of topsoil from New Jersey. Before its rebirth as a park, the northern section of Central Park was once the site of fortifications for both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. From these rough beginnings, the need for peace and nature prompted a public competition in 1858 to design the first public park in the nation. The winning design by Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Calvert Vaux, known as the "Greensward Plan," finally opened to the public in 1873. Central Park was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a New York City Landmark in 1974.
Visitors often steal away to Bethesda Fountain, the watery perch of the immortal Angel of Waters statue tucked away in the heart of Central Park near 72nd Street. Located next to the lake with a view of Loeb Boathouse, this picturesque gathering place has appeared in countless movies and photographs throughout the last 100 years. For those seeking a bit more quietude, Central Park maintains seven designated quiet zones that prohibit music and group activity. These areas are Strawberry Fields, Sheep Meadow, East Green, Conservatory Garden, Shakespeare Garden, and Turtle Pond.
On the livelier side, Delacorte Theatre offers an outdoor performance area for spectacles including the ever-famous "Shakespeare in the Park." Central Park also still offers rides on the famous Friedsman Carousel, a replacement of the original model from 1871.
Central Park has something for everyone young and old: ornithologists enjoy watching over 275 species of migratory birds passing each year along the Atlantic flyway. Animal-lovers and children are awed by sea lions, polar bears, and many other animals in the Central Park Zoo and Children's Zoo. Athletes enjoy bouldering along the protruding bedrock found in the park or hitting the tennis courts and walking along 58 miles of pedestrian paths. Food connoisseurs can tempt their palettes at two restaurants, Tavern on the Green and Loeb Boathouse, located inside the park. Strategists may enjoy a game at the Chess and Checkers House. The art-and-architecture-minded can examine 51 sculptures and 36 bridges and arches. Visitors may also simply hang out on the Great Lawn for a bit of sunning and people-watching.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 6am to 1am daily
- Subway Stop:
- Central Park can be reached by subway on the east side on the number 4, 5, 6 trains and on the west on the A, B, C, D trains
- Contact:
- Location: The Park's six-mile perimeter extends from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue and 59th Street to 110th Street.
- Phone: 212-310-6600
- Central Park Conservatory: www.centralparknyc.org
- Central Park Resources:
- CentralPark.com: www.centralpark.com
- The Central Park Blog: centralparkblogger.com
