Central Park

Central Park
Name	Central Park
Location	Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates	40, 46, 55, N...
Area	843 acres (341 ha)
Created	1857
Designer	Frederick Law Olmsted, Calvert Vaux
Operator	Central Park Conservancy, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Visitation	42 million annually
Publictransit	Central Park North–110th Street, 59th Street–Columbus Circle, Fifth Avenue–59th Street

Central Park. It is an urban park located in Manhattan, New York City, between the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side. Designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux after winning the Greensward Plan competition, it opened in 1858 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963. The park is managed by the Central Park Conservancy in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and receives approximately 42 million visitors annually.

History

The land was acquired by the city through eminent domain in the 1850s, displacing communities like Seneca Village. The 1858 design competition was won by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux with their Greensward Plan. Construction was a massive public works project involving thousands of workers, including many from the New York State Legislature funded American Civil War veteran program. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the park faced periods of decline, notably during the tenure of Robert Moses, before a major restoration began in the 1980s led by the newly formed Central Park Conservancy.

Geography and design

The park spans 843 acres from 59th Street to 110th Street and from Fifth Avenue to Central Park West, which transitions into Eighth Avenue. Its design is a seminal work of American landscape architecture, creating a pastoral landscape within the Manhattan grid. Key design elements include the separate circulation systems for pedestrians, equestrians, and vehicles, the use of transverse roads to hide cross-town traffic, and the creation of naturalistic features like the Ramble, Harlem Meer, and The Pond.

Features and attractions

Notable features include Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Strawberry Fields, a memorial to John Lennon, and the Central Park Zoo. Cultural institutions within its borders include the Delacorte Theater, home to Shakespeare in the Park productions by The Public Theater, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art along Fifth Avenue. Recreational facilities encompass Wollman Rink, Lasker Rink, numerous baseball fields, and the Central Park Carousel. Other landmarks are the Belvedere Castle, Conservatory Water, and the Central Park Mall.

Flora and fauna

The park contains over 18,000 trees, including many American elms that form the Mall's notable promenade, as well as species like London plane, oak, and maple. The Central Park Conservancy oversees significant horticultural collections, such as the Shakespeare Garden and the Conservatory Garden. Wildlife includes over 200 species of birds, making it a significant stop on the Atlantic Flyway, along with mammals like raccoons, opossums, and the red-tailed hawk, notably documented by Marie Winn.

Management and operations

Daily management and capital improvements are primarily handled by the Central Park Conservancy, a private nonprofit, under a contract with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The New York City Police Department patrols the park, with a dedicated precinct. Funding comes from private donations to the Central Park Conservancy, city tax levy, and revenue from concessions like the Tavern on the Green restaurant. Major operations include landscaping, trash collection, and maintaining facilities like the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center.

Cultural impact

The park has been featured in countless films, from *Breakfast at Tiffany's* to *When Harry Met Sally...*, and television series like Sex and the City. It has hosted major concerts, including performances by Simon & Garfunkel, Diana Ross, and Global Citizen Festival events. Literary references abound, from J.D. Salinger's *The Catcher in the Rye* to Gary Shteyngart's *Super Sad True Love Story*. It is also a frequent site for political demonstrations and cultural parades.

Category:Central Park Category:Parks in Manhattan Category:National Historic Landmarks in New York City