Comprising six percent of Manhattan, New York’s favorite playground stretches 6 miles (9.7 km) from Central Park South at 59th Street to Central Park North at 110th Street, with Fifth Avenue and Central Park West forming its eastern and western boundaries. Built on what was once a swamp, quarry and pig farm, architect Calvert Vaus and landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted took 20 years and 10 million truckloads of stone and dirt to create this emerald green space known as the “backyard ” from New York.
The park now attracts 25 million visitors each year to enjoy its rolling hills, lakes, and meadows. There are more than 500,000 trees and shrubs, 52 fountains, monuments and sculptures, and 9,000 benches to rest. A colorful array of skaters, bikers, and runners zip by and fly Frisbees and kites.
With a no-car policy on weekends, surrounded by the city skyline but with six designated quiet zones, it’s also a place to retreat from the bustle or crowded museums for a while. However, there are many things to do here; Activities offered include skating, croquet and chess. Children will have fun with the discovery centers, workshops, carousel and playgrounds. You can also eat at one of the park’s restaurants or attend a concert.
To get an idea of how big this 840-acre park is, if you were to walk all the pedestrian paths, it would be 93 km! Put on sturdy shoes and find your way around with a map, downloadable from the website or available along with information at the Dairy, a quaint Victorian-Gothic visitor center. For an overview, a walk from 59th to 79th streets showcases some of the best the park has to offer. The Ramble stands out, a wooded area dotted with paths and streams; a stop on the migratory route, it is the place for bird watching. The ride also passes some of the 36 bridges, man-made lakes, and Bethesda Terrace, which reopened in March 2007 with an exquisite recently restored Minton tile roof.