Central Park is arguably one of the most well-known spots in all of New York City. In fact, it may be one of the most famous parks in the entire world! Central Park is known for its large size and incomparable beauty. It is a welcomed and much-needed splash of green in the concrete jungle. The New York City landscape, filled with skyscrapers and multi-story apartment buildings, would be incomplete without the 843 acre Central Park.
Millions of tourists travel to the big apple every year to visit Central Park. The park’s massive size makes it nearly impossible to walk through all of it, but even just taking a brief walk in the park can be an amazing experience. While Central Park has rolling green hills, architecturally beautiful bridges and winding, paved walkways, it has so much more than that. Central Park is unlike many other parks in the United States because there are several attractions within the park itself. From riding a horse-drawn carriage to visiting exotic animals in the Central Park Zoo, the options are endless when you visit Central Park.
Central Park History
Did you know that Central Park was the first landscaped park in the United States? It is also one of the largest parks in an urban area, stretching 843 acres across Manhattan and covering an area bigger than Monaco. The discussion about creating a “central park” was initiated in the mid-19th century by the wealthy elites of New York City. They admired the public park areas in major European cities like London and Paris and wanted such a space in their own backyard.
The decision to create a central park was officially made in 1853. A park design contest was held and the winner was a plan called “Greensward Plan,” which was created by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The plan called for an English-esque landscape with romantic rolling hills and open spaces to contrast with the industrial look of New York City. The City of New York used the power of eminent domain to obtain the land needed for such a large park. Over 1600 people were evicted from their homes, churches, and schools in the area- including everyone in Seneca Village, a prominent African-American community. Landowners were given $700 for their pieces of land, but many were upset because they claimed this number was far too low. Nonetheless, construction on the rocky, swampy terrain began in 1857 with a vision of a central park in mind.
The actual construction of Central Park required 20,000 laborers working ten-hour shifts for two years. In 1859, the park became open to the public. Within six short years, Central Park was already attracting seven million visitors annually. During the first decade of Central Park’s existence, the rules governing the park were incredibly strict. Picnics were banned, which effectively restricted immigrant families from coming to the park. Additionally, only boys with notes from their schools were allowed to play in the area. However, towards the end of the 19th century, the park commissioners allowed Sunday evening concerts for the working-class citizens of the city and slowly began allowing other attractions in the park. Both the Carousel and the Central Park Zoo were built before 1900 and became massive tourist attractions.
In 1927, the first playground was built in Central Park. In the next 40 years, more recreational areas were built including boathouses, skating rinks, a pool, and 20 playgrounds. Today, all of these attractions and more can be enjoyed in Central Park. Bike riding, rollerblading, boating, and visiting attractions like museums and carousels are enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.
Central Park in Entertainment
Central Park’s beauty has made it a popular filming location for several movies and television shows. Today, it has earned the title of being the most filmed park in the world, as it has made an appearance in over 240 movies. Along with being featured in entertainment, Central Park has acted as inspiration for a handful of other movies and television shows. It’s easy to understand why! Not only is Central Park stunning, but it is an iconic spot in New York City. There is something alluring about the aesthetics and the culture of Central Park. It is unlike any other park in NYC and even in the United States. Here are a few movies and television shows that have featured Central Park:
Movies
• 13 Going on 30
• Mr. Popper’s Penguins
• 27 Dresses
• Night at the Museum
• Friends With Benefits
• Home Alone 2
• Elf
• Enchanted
• When Harry Met Sally
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Ghostbusters
• The Avengers
• Date Night
Television shows
• Gossip Girl
• How I Met Your Mother
• Glee
Things to do in Central Park
When you visit Central Park, you won’t have to wonder what there is to do. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Central Park! Here are just some of the family-friendly activities one can do in the park:
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA) is one of the most extensive fine art museums in the entire world. There are over 2 million pieces of art, architecture, and artifacts in the museum, which represent 5,000 years of world history. Founded in 1870, it has been a prominent Central Park attraction for nearly 150 years. The MOMA attracts over seven million visitors annually, which made it the third most visited art museum in the world in 2016.
• Central Park Zoo: The Central Park Zoo was one of the first attractions to ever open in Central Park. The zoo, which began as a menagerie, has existed since the 1860’s, but was only formally turned into a zoo. In the 1980’s, the zoo was renovated to provide a more natural habitat for the animals. The Central Park Zoo is relatively small, only spanning 6.5 acres, but is home to many exotic animals including red pandas, tamarin monkeys, and snow leopards.
• Conservatory Garden: While Central Park is full of open green spaces and vegetation, Conservatory Garden is the park’s only formal garden. A conservatory existed between 1898 and 1934 in the same spot where the garden stands today, which is why it was given the name “Conservatory Garden.” The garden, which covers 6 acres, was opened in 1937. The Conservatory Garden contains three smaller gardens, all with unique styles: French, English and Italian. There are several fountains, trees and flowers that decorate this beautiful and elegant garden.
• Belvedere Castle: Many visitors to New York City are unaware that there is a castle right in the middle of Central Park! However, the castle was never home to any royals or prominent New Yorkers. Instead, the castle was built as a folly in 1869. Its name means “beautiful view” in Italian. Although the castle wasn’t part of the original plans for Central Park, it was added on by the original architects. The gothic-style castle offers stunning panoramic views of Central Park and features several exhibit rooms and an observation deck.
• Friedsam Memorial Carousel: The Central Park Carousel, officially named the Michael Friedsam Memorial Carousel, is one of the four carousels located in the southern part of the park. Built-in 1871, the carousel design was changed in 1908 and then restored in 1990. It is one of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission’s Central Park Scenic Landmarks. The carousel features 57 hand-carved horses and two chariots.
While these are the permanent attractions available for Central Park visitors year-round, the park also offers seasonal events. In the winter months, the Wollman Rink opens for ice skating. The public can skate in the middle of Central Park with the beautiful NYC skyscraper backdrop. While the rink can get quite crowded, it is an amazing experience. During the summer, Shakespeare in the Park is a popular event. Since 1962, the Public Theater has hosted free performances of musicals, dramas, and famous Shakespeare plays at the open-air Delacorte Theater. Performances are typically held every Tuesday through Sunday evening from the end of May until the end of August. Several famous actors have graced the Shakespeare in the Park stage, from Meryl Streep to Philip Seymour Hoffman and Denzel Washington.
Central Park is undoubtedly one of the most interesting places to visit in New York City. Whether you’re someone who enjoys a leisurely stroll through the park or someone who wants to visit zoos and museums, Central Park can cater to you. In addition to the captivating attractions in the park, the park’s location is extremely convenient. Located in Manhattan, Central Park is easily accessible from several areas in NYC including Hell’s Kitchen, the Upper West Side, the Upper Eastside, and East Harlem. In Central Park, you can find a diverse group of people including businessmen, families, teenagers, tourists, and more. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on experiencing everything that Central Park has to offer. The next time you visit the big apple, be sure to stop by Central Park.