Central Park: Solitude and Grace in the Heart of America’s Largest City

After taking a recent trip to NY a week ago and spending the better part of a perfect day in Central Park, I actually forgot I was in a noisy city. The weather was perfect, and I was able to run around on the soft grass with my niece and nephew and sit under a shady tree. Upon my return I was inspired to learn more about our nation’s largest urban oasis.  

A Brief History
Central Park was planned as far back as the early 1850s. It is said that the high society residents of New York City were inspired by the socialites of that era from London and Paris. In these European cities at that time, great pride was taken by wealthy residents in investing large sums of money to create and maintain beautifully manicured parks. Affluent New Yorkers longed to “keep up” with their overseas counterparts.

Over 700 acres in the heart of Manhattan were acquired using eminent domain, at an expense of displacing some 1,600 residents. Rocky, wet land was chosen as the site for the park because it was not ideal for building and could best be used in a natural setting. Central Park’s first Superintendant, Frederick Law Olmsted, along with architect Calvert Vaux, drew up a plan that won a design contest for the new park. Construction on Central Park began in 1857, though it took thousands of laborers more than 10 years and $10 million to complete the project. Sections of the park were open to the public as they were completed. It was the very first urban landscaped park in America.

The Early Years
Given the park’s uptown location, it was mostly the wealthy residents who enjoyed the benefits of this beautiful oasis. It was common to see luxurious carriages transporting the city’s wealthiest women in the afternoons. Many middle class residents of New York were unable to afford the transportation costs to get to the park from their neighborhoods.

The Middle Years
Over the years the park changed. Lawns were added, playgrounds were built, concerts were held and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds began to enjoy all the recreational benefits of Central Park.

Today
Today, Central Park’s 843 acres are more glorious than ever, thanks to the Central Park Conservancy. This non-profit agency has worked under contract with the city sine 1980 to transform and preserve this remarkable oasis to its present day glory. Over $300 million has been raised through the Central Park Conservancy since its inception due to the generous donations from businesses and individuals. It takes some $20 million per year to operate Central Park.

About 25 million people visit Central Park every year, making it the most visited city park in the US. Among the many attractions here, be sure to visit the Central Park Zoo. Two polar bears named Ida and Gus are the most popular zoo residents. Other highlights include penguins, puffins and red pandas. The newest additions to the zoo are three snow leopards from Central Asia – Chocolate, Zoe and Bo. In the wonderful Tisch Children’s Zoo you can meet Otis and Oliver, adorable Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, a goat named Newman, a cow named Othello and two alpacas named Milo and Otis. Plus there is a beautiful aviary.

Be sure to also visit or dine at Tavern on the Green, the restaurant that has been a Central Park icon since the 1930s. Before your visit to the city, check to see if there will be any outdoor concerts in the park. At the Delacorte Theater, you can be treated to Shakespeare in the Park. There’s also a recreation center with basketball, handball and tennis courts and 26 baseball fields. For a nice overview of Central Park, opt for a Walking Tour. You can obtain a podcast from the park’s official website http://www.centralpark.com.

Don’t forget your camera!

Debbie Glade/smartpoodle is the Geography Awareness Editor for Wandering Educators
 
 

 All photos courtesy and copyright of Debbie Glade.