DK Travel : New York : Central Park

Central Park

4.5 /5 (3 votes)

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New York’s “backyard,” an 843-acre swathe of green, provides recreation and beauty for over two million visitors each year. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, the park took 16 years to create and involved the planting of over 500,000 trees and shrubs, the hauling in of vast amounts of stone and earth to form hills, lakes, and meadows, and the building of 30 stone-and-iron bridges and arches.
The Visitor Center is open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun, and can be contacted on: 212 794 6564

Top 10 Features

1. Great Lawn

1. Great Lawn

This is a 13-acre oval of green lawn. In summer, free concerts by the Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic draw as many as 100,000 people.
2. Bethesda Terrace

Overlooking the lake and Ramble, the ornate terrace and its fountain are the focal point of the park. On the adjacent tree-lined mall inline skaters often show off acrobatic stunts.
3. Belvedere Castle

A 19th-century stone castle atop a rock, complete with towers and turrets, offers peerless views in all directions. Inside is the Henry Luce Nature Observatory with exhibits covering the surprisingly diverse wildlife found in the park.
4. The Ramble

This wooded 37 acres of land is crisscrossed by paths and streams and is a paradise for bird-watchers. Over 270 species have been spotted in Central Park, which is on the Atlantic migration flyway.
5. Reservoir

The 106-acre lake is rimmed by a 1.6-mile (5-km) running track used by joggers. It is the largest of the park’s five lakes and ponds, which include Conservatory Water, where model boat races are held each Saturday.
6. Strawberry Fields

This peaceful garden area was created by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon, who lived in the nearby Dakota apartments. Gifts for the memorial came from all over the world.
7. Conservatory Garden

An elegant 6-acre formal garden with fountains and beautiful displays of flowering trees, bulbs, annuals, and perennials is at its best in the spring, when crabapples, tulips, and azaleas are in bloom.
8. Hans Christian Andersen Statue

Children’s storytelling sessions are held here in the summer. Other activities for youngsters include nature workshops, a vintage carousel, and a marionette theater.
9. Wildlife Center

This conservation center and children’s zoo has three climate zones. The space features a rainforest and over 100 species, including seals, monkeys, and penguins.
10. Delacorte Theater

The New York Public Theater presents two “Shakespeare in the Park” productions in July and August. Free tickets are available on the day, but get in line early. Other free park entertainment includes a SummerStage series of popular music and dance.

Practical Information

Refreshments and light lunches are available at the Boat House snack bar; The Boat House restaurant serves gourmet meals. Make your first stop The Dairy, a Victorian Gothic building housing the Visitor Center. Ask about the free nature workshops and guided walks. Rent bicycles, rowboats and gondolas from the Boathouse, and skates at the Wollman Rink. Rent horses at the Claremont Stables, 175 West 89th Street. From Central Park South to 110th Street & between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West. www.centralparknyc.org Open dawn–dusk

Reviews

Ali

Before I saw it, I was a bit dubious about how impressive Central Park could be, given that it's in the middle of city in very limited space. But it's amazing - you can see the buildings around the edge, but somehow they don't impinge on the sense of being in a big space. Bits of the park are surprisingly wild, too. I recommend the Bethseda Fountain (there was a wedding taking place when I was there, which was odd but nice), and - if you go in winter - the ice rink, both for going on and people watching. The zoo is small but perfectly formed too.

about a year ago

hoootdeals

I visited New York in July 2007. It's one of the best places I have ever seen. Central Park impressed me so much. I love the nature and the threes from that park. It's so beautiful and so large. I saw that there many people from New York like to go there to walk in the park, to relax and to breathe fresh air.

about a year ago

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