Visited by more than 42 million people annually, Central Park is the enormous “green lung” of Manhattan. There, New Yorkers find a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with nature.
The most famous park in the world has an area of 843 hectares. This area includes meadows, such as the Great Lawn and Sheep Meadow; wooded areas (The Ramble); Seven artificial lakes and ponds and about 18,000 species of trees and plants.
Some sights also stand out such as the Terrace and Fountain of Bethessa, which is one of the most photographed places by visitors; Romantic arch bridge; Strawberry Fields, reminiscent of John Lennon; Belvedere Castle; Little Central Park Zoo and Great Lawn Park.
In addition to walking, Central Park invites you to ride a bike on the 10-kilometer circuit, ride boats on the lake, enjoy various shows and ice skating on the Woolman Rink.
The Manhattan Grid System, implemented in 1811, included plans for several small open spaces, but none approaching the size of Central Park. So civic philanthropists and municipal leaders sought to build a park that would provide abundant green space and position New York City as a world-class destination.
The official Central Park website states, “In 1853, state officials approved funds to purchase the land between 59th and 106th Streets, between Fifth and Eighth Avenues.”
“The terrain was rocky and swampy because it was once home to small farms and settlements. The site also passes through the Kingsbridge Road, one of the only two roads that runs through Manhattan and provides access to the northern cities,” he adds.
Promoters of the project called a design competition from which emerged the Greensward Plan, submitted by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The project has emerged including Extensive landscape of pastures and wooded areas.
“One of the most notable features of the Greensward plan was the sunken pedestrian walkways, a required element in the design competition, which Olmsted and Fox concealed beneath the landscaping, out of sight of visitors,” the site adds.
Construction of the park began in 1858When workers moved “nearly five million cubic yards of stone, dirt, and topsoil, they built 36 bridges and arches, and 11 bridges over cross roads. They also planted 500,000 trees, shrubs, and vines.”
This completely artificial scene was a huge success. Just a few months after the design competition ended, the first section of the park, “The Lake,” was opened to the public in 1858. Construction continued over the next few years. 15 yearsAt a cost of US$14 million, nearly three times the original budget.
After its decline at the beginning of the 20th century, Central Park was reborn 1934when Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia appointed Robert Moses as Parks Commissioner. Moses received federal funding to develop large-scale planning projects, including 19 playgrounds, baseball fields, handball courts, and the Woolman Rink in Central Park.
Moses resigned in 1960, leaving Central Park without any plan for maintenance. Without supervision, the park was filled with crowds that caused damage to its facilities.
Again, in 1979, groups of volunteers, with support from Mayor Ed Koch and Parks Commissioner Gordon Davis, formed the Central Park Conservancy which continues to care for the park’s 2,000 acres.
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