Central Park

Central Park is New York’s urban oasis in Manhattan, most visited city park in the US. Features pedestrian paths for walking and jogging, ballfields, a zoo, carousel and boat rentals.

It is very large green area, and although it is the most popular park in the US (and in the world) it is still only the fifth park by the size in New York area. There are so many landmarks and activities to do in the park, that is the must during NYC visit. You can easily spend an entire day of your visit and not get bored.

Quick facts

• Name: Central Park
• Location: New York City, USA
• Built 1858
• Type of attraction: Public Park
• Ticket price: Fee

Cherry blossom trees in the spring, Strawberry Fields with tribute to Joh Lennon and The Beatles, Belvedere castle to enjoy the views, Bethesda Fountain, The Obelisk, Balto and Alice in Wonderland sculptures, gardens, arches and bridges and list goes on, are all the attractions worth visiting while in NYC and in Central Park.

Following an earlier proposal for a massive park in Manhattan in the 1840s, this space was expropriated for the use of the city in 1853 and underwent expansion in 1856 to cover 778 acres (315 ha).

The Park Olmsted and Vaux created in 1857, the “Greensward Plan” was victorious in a design competition, and they became celebrated landscape architects for it.

Construction commenced the same year, which is when the municipality seized properties through eminent domain and razed existing structures, including a majority-Black settlement called Seneca Village.

The park first opened to the public in late 1858 with its first areas. Additionally, in 1859, the New York State Legislature appropriated funds to purchase land in the northern portion of Central Park. Construction on the park was completed in 1876. The number of visitors to Central Park saw a gradual but substantial decline beginning in the early 20th century.

Later, to remedy this, NYC parks commissioner Robert Moses started a cleanup project to bring Central Park into better condition in the 1930s. The Central Park Conservancy was founded in 1980 to combat further deterioration in the latter part of the 20th century. This group renovated various park sections from the 1980s to the present day.

As you can see, there are numerous sights in Central Park that draw tourists, like the Ramble, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and Sheep Meadow; as well as venues for enjoyment, like Wollman Rink, Central Park Carousel, and the Central Park Zoo; facilities for ceremony, like the Central Park Mall and Bethesda Terrace; and a prominent structure, the Delacorte Theater.

In this biologically diverse ecosystem, there are around a hundred species of flora and fauna. A wide range of recreational activities includes carriage-horse and bicycle tours, bicycling, sports facilities, and concerts and events such as Shakespeare in the Park. Central Park is crossed by a network of roads and walkways, with public transportation serving as the means of transportation.

Regardless of your age, hobbies, or preferred season, you’ll find something to enjoy in Central Park. Visit the playgrounds or Central Park Zoo with the kids, have a picnic on the grass, and choose from a wide variety of sports and recreational activities including yoga, running, bicycling, and more at Central Park.

Music and concerts from SummerStage, Good Morning America, the New York Philharmonic, and more may be found throughout the summer. Shakespeare in the Park and the Central Park Film Festival are just two of the many popular cultural events that take place in the park throughout the year.

Activities like ice skating and sledding, as well as annual festivals like Winter Jam and Ice Scuplture, and our seasonal Holiday Sights walking tour, are all available between the autumn and winter seasons.

Interesting facts about Central Park

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing green area:

• It hosts largest events possible, close to a million people could attend concerts in Central Park.
• Central Park is very popular location for filming sets and it was featured in more than 350 movies.
• Central Park has an app with all the information and maps to visit more than 40 points of interest within the park.

Read more: Interesting facts about Central Park