Central Park
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Central Park is 4 kilometers long and 0.8 kilometers wide. The surface area is 3.41 square kilometers. It is crisscrossed by walking paths, roads, and cycling lanes and it takes at least a full day to see most of it. Central Park is similar in size and location to Englischer Garten
in Munich and Hyde Park in London. Since its opening, the park has been a
model for several other urban parks all over the world, such as Stanley Park in Vancouver, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and Ueno Park in Tokyo.Although it looks natural, the entire park has been landscaped. There are many lakes and ponds, walking tracks, ice-skating rinks, a zoo, sculptures, statues, theaters, playgrounds, and so on. Central Park is home to more than 25,000 trees and birds such as ducks, starlings, and Red-Tailed Hawks. Mammals living in the park include raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and chipmunks.
Central Park has been a National Historic Landmark in the United States since 1962 and became New York City’s first scenic landmark in 1974. It was the first public park in the country and has now become probably the most famous urban park in the world.
History
However, the park was in serious decline by the beginning of the 20th century, due to political, economic, and social circumstances. The invention and growing popularity of the car played a big role, as did the Great Depression. Robert Moses was the park commissioner from 1934 until 1960 and he managed to restore eroded landscapes and crumbling sculptures, which improved the park’s status. He also built 12 ball fields and 19 playgrounds, turning the park into a place for recreation. After he left, the park went into decline once again, this time even more severely. Playgrounds, benches, and lights became broken; lawns turned into dust; and garbage and graffiti could be found and seen all over the place. It became a hub for crime, drug abuse, and other illegal activities.
The park found its third breath after the establishment of the Office of Central Park Administrator in 1979 and the founding of the Central Park Conservancy in 1980. A master-plan for restoration was created, which succeeded, and the way the park was managed was completely turned around. Nowadays, the park is definitely more beautiful and well-managed than it’s ever been.
Things to See and Do
There are countless things to do in Central Park. The list starts, but doesn't stop, with boating, walking, picnicking, bird watching, playing sports, and ice skating. Visitors can go on rides in horse-drawn carriages, rent bikes, and or visit the Central Park Zoo. In summer, the park is the setting for several theater performances, as well as concerts.Strolling through the park is probably the most popular thing to do. Several lakes, ponds, waterfalls, and gardens make up a varied landscape. The Bow Bridge
has been
featured in many romantic movies, while the Great Lawn is a popular place to picnic and play sports. In
addition, the park is dotted with sculptures. Examples are Alice in Wonderland, Balto, and the John Lennon
Statue. Arguably, the biggest attraction in Central Park is the fabulous Metropolitan Museum of Art, located in the east of the park on Fifth Avenue. The enormous art museum keeps visitors occupied for hours, if not a whole day.
Nearby Landmarks
Central Park is unique in the sense that it is the most visited urban park in the United States – around 40 million people visited the park each year. New York City is home to several other major landmarks, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center, among many others.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: bramreusen. Last updated: Nov 05, 2014
Pictures of Central Park
