Central Park – The Green Heart of Manhattan
Central Park in New York City is probably the most famous urban park in the world. It stretches right in the heart of Manhattan and is part of the city's urban planning, together with the grid pattern of avenues and streets. Central Park is a vital part of New York City, a romantic and charming place full of attractions, water streams, sculptures, and simply wonderful atmosphere.
Basic Info about Central Park
- The park was designed in 1853 by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as part of the urban planning for Manhattan north of 59th Street
- The open space is part of New York's Uptown, stretching westward from Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side to Central Park West (the continuation of Eighth Avenue) in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
- The southern edge of the park is 59th Street, and to the north, it is bordered by Central Park North (the continuation of West 110th Street).
- The real estate surrounding the park itself is considered the most prestigious in Manhattan.
- The park includes some of the city's major attractions such as the Metropolitan, the Guggenheim, the Plaza Hotel, the Dakota Building, and more. In between, there are luxurious residential towers that have historically housed the city's wealthy, and today are home to a large number of celebrities living in New York.
- The entire park is an artificial and planned landscape design featuring open green spaces, a variety of rustic attractions, statues, walking, running, and biking paths, and an impressive array of 36 unique (and iconic) bridges designed by Vaux.
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How to Get to Central Park?
The Central Park West Avenue is served by the Orange (B,D) and Blue (A,C) subway lines running along the park. If you're arriving from the south, numerous trains stop at stations in the northern part of Midtown. The Green Line (4,5,6) runs on the Upper East Side along Lexington Avenue, just three blocks from Fifth Avenue.
8 Must-See Attractions in Central Park
- Sunbathe on The Great Lawn
- Lake View at Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
- Shakespeare in the Park at Delacorte Theater
- Take a photo with the Alice in Wonderland statue
- Central Park Zoo
- Scenic View from Belvedere Castle
- Reflect with John Lennon at Strawberry Fields
- Ice Skating in Winter at Wollman Rink
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Map of Central Park in Manhattan
Everything to See on a Walk Through New York's Central Park
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the northeastern USA. Entry to the zoo is from East 64th Street or from the road on 65th Street that crosses Central Park from the Upper East to Upper West Side. The zoo, like many places in New York, is part of popular culture and is mentioned in numerous series and films. This is the place from which the animals escaped in the movie Madagascar.
The zoo opened in 1934 and has since been a part of the park's landscape. The zoo offers a commercial display of animals, some of which are rare, like polar bears, elephants, lions, and more. The zoo is a very popular spot for the city's children.
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The southern part of Central Park from 59th Street to the lake
The southern part of Central Park is naturally the busier section of the park. This part of the park is adjacent to Midtown, filled with skyscrapers and travelers, and serves as an immediate escape from the vast urban jungle sprawling south from 59th Street. In the southern section, a significant portion of the park's rustic attractions, including the famous zoo and other rural and cultural features, are nestled between the lawns and woods.
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The Dairy and Wollman Rink Ice Skating Rink
At the back of the zoo, in the southern part of Central Park, lie two attractions close to each other. The Dairy is a charming neo-gothic building serving as the park's visitor center. Built in 1871, the building has since become one of the park's rural spirit symbols. Slightly to the south is the park's famous skating rink, possibly the most photogenic spot against the shadow of Midtown's towers. The rink was opened in 1950 and closed in the 1980s. In 1986, Donald Trump invested money to renovate and restore the rink, and since then, it has again been one of the park's icons.
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Umpire Rock
The giant boulder is located in the southwestern part of the park, not far from Columbus Circle. It is originally a volcanic rock that was eroded by glaciers hundreds of thousands of years ago. The giant boulder rises above the areas of Central Park and is a delightful attraction for a walk.
Sheep Meadow
Sheep Meadow is a huge lawn in the heart of the park, filled with sunbathers or families and couples picnicking on sunny days. On the west side of the lawn is the park's famous luxury restaurant, Tavern On the Green. On the southern part of the lawn, beyond 65th Street that runs through the park, is the Central Park Carousel, a popular attraction for children. In the northeast corner of the lawn begins The Mall and Literary Walk stretching all the way to the lake.
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The Mall and Literary Walk and Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
The central and most invested part of the park is the Mall and the famous Literary Walk that ends at Bethesda Terrace and the southern edge of the lake. Along the avenue are statues of famous writers. The avenue leads towards Bethesda Terrace, a sort of central square of the park that overlooks the fountain and the lake to the north. The descent is via two well-tended staircases leading to the large round fountain with a statue of an angel at its center.
Strawberry Fields Garden
Strawberry Fields is a small garden on the west side of the lake, not far from the Dakota Building on the Upper West Side. In this building bordering the park, John Lennon of The Beatles was murdered in 1980. The garden was subsequently built as a memorial to the great creator. It is named after the famous song by Lennon and The Beatles and was established through the initiative and contribution of his widow, Yoko Ono. The garden features numerous plants from all over the world. At its heart lies a mosaic on the sidewalk with the word ‘Imagine' inscribed.
Alice in Wonderland Sculpture and the Conservatory Water
The bronze sculpture of Alice in Wonderland is one of the park's most famous sculptures. It features Alice alongside the hurried White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter, seated on a mushroom. This sculpture is one of the most photogenic in the park and attracts a large number of visitors. It is located on the eastern side of the lake near the Conservatory Water pool. This pool is a favorite spot for New York children who come to sail model boats they've built.
The Lake and The Ramble
The Lake and The Ramble are the unofficial border between the bustling and almost ornate southern part of Central Park and the wider green spaces of its northern section. On the southern bank of the winding artificial lake, there are several points of interest such as Cherry Hill and Bethesda Terrace. Once you cross the charming Bow Bridge, you reach the central part of the park, which is less crowded and more natural at its core.
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The Ramble, north of the lake, is a relatively dense forest area with charming walking trails. It is the most secluded area you can find away from Manhattan's urban jungle. Between the lake and the Ramble, there are some lovely spots such as the charming Ladies Pavilion gazebo and the cute Ramble Stone Arch bridge. On the eastern side of the lake, there is a ramp and dock where you can rent boats for a lake ride.
The central and northern part of Central Park – from the lake to Central Park North street
The central and northern part of Central Park is less crowded with attractions and more dedicated to nature. A significant portion of the area is dedicated to the large reservoir named after Jackie Kennedy Onassis, which dominates the park from 86th street in the south to the 97th street road. This road crosses the park and connects the Upper East Side with the Upper West Side in the northern part of the boroughs. South of the reservoir is the open Great Lawn, the venue for concerts held in the park, and to the north is the large northern meadow.
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The Obelisk and the Metropolitan Museum
The sprawling Metropolitan Museum resides within the park area but is considered part of the Upper East Side. This museum is one of the largest and most significant in the world for art and archeology, drawing an immense number of visitors each day. At its foot stands the famous obelisk donated to New York City. The obelisk, known as Cleopatra's Needle, was gifted by the Egyptians in 1881.
Belvedere Castle
The castle is one of the most beautiful and important attractions in Central Park. It is located just north of the 79th Street Transverse, adjacent to the Turtle Pond and the Delacorte Theater, where the famous free Shakespeare performances in the park are held. The elevated castle is an excellent spot for panoramic views. It resembles the castles of Disneyland, transporting viewers to medieval Europe under a decorative guise.
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The Great Lawn and Turtle Pond
Adjacent to Belvedere Castle to the north is the small Turtle Pond. The pond was originally named after the nearby castle, but with the takeover by turtles, it has been endearingly named after them. North of the pond is the Great Lawn, a large open grassy area with several open baseball fields. The Great Lawn hosts park performances, including the legendary Simon & Garfunkel concert held in September 1981.
The Conservatory Garden
A well-kept garden built in three different garden styles. The garden is located at the northeast corner of Central Park, and you can enter through the Vanderbilt Gate, which is opposite El Museo del Barrio on East 105th Street.
