The Dakota Building
Found on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, on the corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West, The Dakota Building/Apartments is one of New York’s ...
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Central Park NYC – New York City’s Iconic Urban Oasis
Central Park is a city-owned public space located in the center of Manhattan. It covers 840 acres, which is larger than its original 778 acres when it opened in 1857. It is a National Historic Landmark (1962) and is managed by the Central Park Conservancy – a non-profit that contributes to upkeep and park staffing.
History of Central Park
New Yorkers in the 1800s faced the rapid development of the city. They decided they needed a public park, similar to fashionable open-air parks in other parts of the world (such as London). The New York legislature designated the 778-acre tract and appointed the Central Park Commission for its development. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux created the winning design, known as the Greensward Plan, for the park. During construction, over 18,500 cubic yards of topsoil were transported to the site from New Jersey, and ten million cartloads of soil, rocks, and material were taken out. Over four million trees and shrubs were planted in the park. The park has gone through ups and downs in maintenance and renovations, currently hosting nearly thirty-five million visitors annually.
Top Attractions Inside Central Park
Visitors to the park can view four bodies of water – the Reservoir, the Lake, the Pond, and the Harlem Meer. Rowboats and waterside dining are available at the Loeb Boathouse on The Lake. There is bird watching in the section of the park called “The Ramble,” horse carriage rides that tour the park, six miles of paved trails for jogging, bicycling, and skating, as well as rock climbing and bouldering.
For children, there is the Central Park Carousel (one of the largest in the US), 21 playgrounds in the park (the largest is 3 acres in size!), the Central Park Zoo, and the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater. There are public entertainment venues such as the NY Shakespeare Festival, the NY Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and major outdoor concerts. For a full calendar of events and things to do in Central Park, visit centralparknyc.org
Visitors to the park can explore:
- Bethesda Fountain and Terrace
- Bow Bridge
- Strawberry Fields
- The Central Park Zoo
- Sheep Meadow
- The Great Lawn
The park transforms beautifully throughout the year. Spring brings blooming flowers, summer offers concerts and boating, fall delivers vibrant foliage, and winter creates a peaceful snowy retreat in the heart of Manhattan.
Explore Central Park with USA Guided Tours
Experience Central Park and Manhattan’s most famous neighborhoods with USA Guided Tours’ New York City sightseeing tours. Enjoy the park’s highlights while learning about its history, design, and movie-famous locations from knowledgeable local guides.
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