Central Park in New York – what to see?

In New York, in the heart of bustling Manhattan, there is a green oasis – Central Park. And although most people associate New York mainly with skyscrapers, people rushing ahead and yellow cabs, they are generally familiar with Central Park as well, but not everyone realizes how large an area this park covers! So today we take you on a journey to one of the most recognizable urban parks in the world.

We had the opportunity to reach New York City during our nearly month-long tour of the US East Coast. We spent a week in NYC itself, and we still think there is a lot left to see, so we will definitely come back here again. We will also return to Central Park, as it is the perfect place to deal with jet lag. Because what better way could there be than a peaceful walk among the greenery?

So one day, just after arrival, was spent in Central Park. Instead of going straight to the viewpoints or throwing ourselves into the whirlwind of the rushing city, we decided to get to know it from a slightly different angle. This is where locals and tourists relax, hang out and train, and the park itself offers plenty of activities and opportunities for relaxation. From the moment one enters the park, one is struck by its impressive scale. Expansive lawns, majestic trees and picturesque lakes create an idyllic landscape, contrasting with the surrounding skyscrapers. Walking through the park’s alleys, you will come across numerous sculptures and fountains, adding to the charm of the place, and the park’s nature surprises at every turn.

Below you will find quite a bit of information on what attractions in the park await you, along with a handful of practical travel tips.

Central Park in New York

Central Park is located in the central part of Manhattan, and its area is more than 3.4 square kilometers! These are the largest green spaces in New York. About 4 kilometers long and nearly a kilometer wide, it is one of the world’s most famous urban parks, although it is by no means the largest. Ba, it’s not even the largest in the United States!

However, it is worth mentioning that Central Park in New York is the most visited urban park in the world. According to estimates, more than 40 million people visit it each year.

The park’s large size means that, despite its popularity, there is room for everyone. You can sit on one of the many benches, spread out with a blanket on the grass, take a boat ride, play on the playground, use the local infrastructure. Popular activities in the central park include jogging, but also cycling or rollerblading. And all this in the center of a metropolis that never sleeps.

History of Central Park

The park’s history dates back to the 1940s. The 19th century, when New York was rapidly expanding. Population growth and urbanization of the city meant that residents increasingly needed a place for rest and recreation. In 1853, the city authorities announced a competition to design the development of the area, although it is said that the authorities had a different goal: they wanted to see property prices in the area rise. The winners of the competition were Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who proposed creating a green oasis in the heart of the metropolis. The park took 15 years to build and required a huge effort, as the area where the park was to be built was swampy, neglected and polluted – in fact, everything had to be built from scratch. It required millions of tons of soil to be applied and thousands of plants to be planted. The park’s history shows that the effort has paid off.

The park immediately became a popular place among New Yorkers. Over the years, the park has witnessed many historical events, from protests and demonstrations to concerts and festivals. An important point in the park’s history was the creation of the Central Park Conservancy, an organization that began to keep the park in order and undertook major renovations.

Today, Central Park in Manhattan is one of the most recognizable urban parks in the world. It is a place where there is something for everyone: from lovers of nature and active recreation to those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Interesting facts about Central Park

Central Park – facts and trivia that will surprise you:

1. Unlike the streets of New York, the alleys in the park are not straight (except for exactly one). Of course, there was a purpose in such a project: through the winding roads, they wanted to prevent carriage racing, which was a big problem at the time.
2. The park is home to more than 26,000 trees.
3. As many as 21 playgrounds await the children (however, the children’s attractions came later, in the original plans there was not much thought about toddlers ;) only under pressure from the press, designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux decided to create a space for children).
4. There are nearly 100 kilometers of walking paths in the park.
5. One of the largest monuments in the park is the statue of King Ladislaus Jagiello.
6. At one time, where the park is now, there was, among other things, a landfill.
7. As many as 20,000 workers participated in the construction of the park.
8. Construction was a huge undertaking: swamps were drained, a lot of soil was applied, and explosives were used to break up the rocks.
9. It is the oldest urban park in the United States.

Highlights of Central Park

Central Park in Manhattan is a huge green area for rest and recreation. Residents of New York often spend time here actively, and at any time of the year you will meet joggers, cyclists or rollerbladers (apparently, you can meet many famous people jogging here ;) ). In the shade of the trees, in the meadows, people relax on blankets, picnic and enjoy family time. Walking around, every now and then we’ll come across some sort of activity or training: from baby classes, to youth training, to meetings for seniors.

However, there are a few places that are particularly worth noting to make visiting Central Park a more interesting experience. After all, the park’s attractions are not just alleys and lawns for resting.

We have included all of the described places on the map, which you will find at the bottom of this post.

Bethesda Lake and Terrace

The lake, simply The Lake, is not the largest body of water in the park (Central Park Reservoir is), but it is probably the prettiest. The lake is surrounded by alleys and benches and is an ideal place for a romantic walk or picnic on the shore. You can also rent a boat and enjoy the park from a slightly different perspective. Spanning above the lake is the Bow Bridge – this cast-iron bridge is one of the most iconic sights in the park. Of course, its popularity is also related to the fact that there is a rather small chance that you will be the only one here.

Just about 150 meters from the bridge, walking along the park alley in a southerly direction, one reaches the fountain. This is the Bethesda Fountain, depicting the Angelof the Waters (Angel of the Waters) by Emma Stebbins (and here’s another interesting fact: it was the first public sculpture in NYC created by a woman).

The fountain is part of BethesdaTerrace (Bethesda Terrace). The author of the design of the terraces was Calvert Vaux, who always put nature first and only then architecture, fitting into the landscape. The terrace and arcade are full of sculptures and ornaments, and of particular note is the ceiling covered with 16,000 tiles!

The terrace is the culmination of the only straight avenue in the park – the Mall. It is a majestic avenue that runs through the heart of the park, along which elm trees grow. At 45 meters wide and 900 meters long, it is the perfect place for a walk, jog or bike ride. At the Mall are statues of famous writers and theWomen’s Rights Pioneers Monument.

Strawberry Fields

Strawberry Fields is a memorial to John Lennon, a member of the Beatles. Near here, at the entrance to the building where his apartment was located, he was shot by a psychophobe and killed.

The name Strawberry Fields is a reference to the Beatles’ song Strawberry Fields Forever, the title of which was in turn taken from the name of the orphanage at which John Lennon lived in Liverpool. The site in the park is a mosaic with the inscription Imagine symbolizing the ideas of peace and unity that Lennon preached in his music.

Strawberry Fields is a place where Lennon fans from all over the world come to pay their respects to him, sit on a bench, listen to Lennon’s music or simply take a moment of silence in reverie. The atmosphere of the place promotes reflection on peace, love and tolerance – values that were so important to him.

Belvedere Castle

On Vista Rock, the second highest point in Central Park, is located a structure that one is unlikely to expect to see in the park. This picturesque neo-Gothic castle was built in 1872 and was intended to serve as a vantage point overlooking the park. Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould were the authors of the design of the structure along with the terraces.

Today, Belvedere Castle still serves as a lookout point, but it also houses a tourist information center and a gift store.

Great Lawn and Sheep Meadow

If you’ve seen people resting on the grass in Central Park in any movie or TV series, it’s likely that the scene was filmed in Sheep Meadow, or if not there, then on the Great Lawn, which is literally the Great Lawn.

Great Lawn is a sprawling lawn located in the heart of the park, established in 1930. The venue is known for the many events and activities that take place there regularly. Among the best-known events are concerts by the New York Philharmonic and the Global Citizen Festival. The Great Lawn also hosts free film screenings and theater performances in the summer. It is the perfect place for a picnic, relaxing in the sun, playing frisbee or just taking a walk. There are 6 fields for softball, a smaller and softer version of baseball.

Sheep Meadow, on the other hand, is a lawn surrounded by trees and skyscrapers protruding from behind them, which is a really interesting contrast and one of the best views in New York. The name didn’t come out of nowhere, this is where sheep once actually grazed, which would make a perfect addition to the landscape. It is a place for another walk and relaxation in the shade of the trees.

Conservatory Water

Convervatory Water is also referred to as Model Boat Pond, as models of yachts and boats can often be seen gliding across the water. Unfortunately, we were not able to see it.

While the reservoir itself is somehow not particularly special, look for monuments near it : Hans Christian Andersen and Alice in Wonderland.

Another reservoir is the largest Central Park Reservoir, also known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, is one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in the world (it is the largest museum in the Americas and one of the most visited museums in the world). It boasts an impressive collection of some 1.5 million works of art from around the world and from different eras.

The Met was founded in 1870 by a group of New York art lovers. Initially, the collection was housed in several different locations, but in 1880 the museum moved to its current location on Fifth Avenue. The museum building has been expanded over the years and now consists of several wings, each dedicated to art from a different period or region.

Central Park Zoo

If you travel with children, they will probably associate the Central Park Zoo with the Penguins of Madagascar. However, the New York Zoo may disappoint, especially if you have visited many other zoos.

The Central Park Zoo (also known as the Central Park Wildlife Center) is a small zoo located in the southeastern part of Central Park. The origins of the zoo date back to 1864, when it originally housed only a few animals and, in fact, it was hard to even talk about a zoo. The menagerie was taking in more animals, and conditions were deteriorating. A decision was then made to build a zoo, which opened in late 1934. The garden became famous for its tiger (a combination of tiger and lion) and a pair of gay penguins.

Nowadays, you won’t encounter many large animals at the Central Park Zoo, but you can still admire sea lions, penguins, snow irbis and the largest of the residents, the grizzly bear.

Central Park for kids

Although in its conception the park was not intended to be a space where attractions for the youngest were to be located, a great deal has changed in this regard. So what interesting attractions await children?

Currently, the park offers quite a few of them, with playgrounds at the forefront, of course. There are as many as 21 of them here! Of course, we have not been to every one, but walking around Central Park we visited several of them.

• Heckscher Playground – this is the oldest playground in the park, located at the 62nd Street level. It offers plenty of attractions for children of all ages, including slides, swings, sandboxes, climbing walls, spiders and many play spaces.
• Adventure Playground – this playground is located near Sheep Meadow, and is smaller but offers many climbing structures and swings.
• Tarr-Coyne Tots’ Playground – is located next to Adventure Playground, but here installations for smaller children predominate.
• Ancient Playground – slides, swings, sandbox but also pyramid and obelisk shaped structure.
• Billy Johnson Playground – a playground with granite slide, disabled slide, climbing structures and swings.

And these are just a few playgrounds. Being here during the day your attention will surely be attracted by the fact that mostly babysitters with children come here.

Kids might also be interested in the Central Park Zoo, already described above, or the Central Park Carousel (also known as the Michael Friedsam Memorial Carousel), a carousel you might not notice! It’s true… by the fact that it is covered it is possible to pass by it indifferently, and it would be a pity, because it is one of the largest carousels of its kind in the United States. It is located between Sheep Meadow and the Heckscher playground.

The first carousel that stood here in 1871 was pulled by mules or horses. The current carousel, launched in 1951, is the fourth to operate here and has become a permanent part of the local landscape. It has 57 hand-carved horses (52 jumping and 5 standing) and two chariots. The carousel is open daily when the weather is good. It is visited by about 250,000 people a year.

A walk in Central Park is also an opportunity to observe animals. Squirrels, mice can be seen here, and birds (woodpeckers, owls, hawks, ducks) can also be spotted in the park.

Practical information

Location and access to Central Park

As we mentioned, the park is located in Manhattan, and the streets around Central Park that define its boundaries are 5th Avenue and Central Park West, and 59th Street and 110th Street to the south and north.

Central Park is so large that there are not just one, two or three entrances. The trails leading to the park are many, and when considering which one to use, you should first think about what you want to see and how much time you have (to help with this a bit, there is a map at the bottom of the post with the points in the park marked).

At the same time, access to the park is easy and accessible by various means of transportation.

By Metro:

The park has several subway stations nearby, making it the most convenient way for many people to get to the park.

• Columbus Circle Station (59th Street & 8th Avenue/Central Park West & Broadway) – ideal for the southwest corner of the park.
• 72nd Street station and 81 St-Museum of Natural History (72nd Street & 81st Street) station – a convenient access point to the central part of the park.
• Central Park North station (110th Street & 5th Avenue) – ideal for the northern end of the park.
• 5 Av/59 St station (E 60th Street & 5th Avenue) – it’s worth getting here if you plan to start from the southeast corner

Detailed metro maps can be found at this link.

By bus:

There are many bus lines to Central Park: M1, M2, M3, M4, which run on the east side, and M10, M72 on the west side of the park.

Available lines and routes can be checked on the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) website.

Cab or Uber:

If you prefer convenience, you can get to the park by cab or Uber. Keep in mind, however, that prices may be higher during peak hours.

Tickets and prices

Here the good news: Central Park is a city park, free of charge. No need to buy tickets or pay to enter Central Park in New York. Of course, this does not mean that all attractions on its premises are free.

Below are sample prices of the places that are described in this post and are paid:

The MET:

• Regular ticket: $30.00
• Discounted ticket: $17.00
• Children under 12: free

Central Park Zoo:

• Regular ticket: $19.95
• Discounted ticket: $14.95
• Children under 2 years old: free

Central Park Carousel:

• One ride: $3.5

Accommodation near Central Park

Accommodation near Central Park is not the cheapest, but after all, this is New York! Here everything is expensive ;)

We have selected for you some accommodations in the area that have at least very good reviews:

• The Sherry Netherland
  Address: 781 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10022
  Prices: from $886 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-sherry
• Park Lane New York
  Address: 36 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
  Prices: from $911 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-park-lane
• Trump International New York
  Address: One Central Park West, Upper West Side, New York, NY 10023
  Prices: from $1030 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-trump-int
• 1 Central Park Hotel
  Address: 1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
  Prices: from $1200 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking–park
• JW Marriott Essex House New York
  Address: 160 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
  Prices: from $1030 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-jw-marriott
• The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York
  Address: Two East 61st Street at 5th Avenue, Upper East Side, New York, NY 10065
  Prices: from $1530 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-pierre
• The Plaza
  Address: 768 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
  Prices: from $1620 for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-nyc-plaza

Map of Central Park

Below we have prepared for you a map of Central Park with the points described in this post plotted:

Our opinion

Central Park is a place where there is something for everyone. Families with children can enjoy playgrounds and specially designated areas, while picnic lovers will find expansive lawns perfect for relaxing on a sunny day. Visiting Central Park is also an opportunity to discover interesting buildings, sculptures and architectural elements. The history of Central Park shows that a place where there was once a landfill can be transformed into a place where people from different social strata can spend time.

If you are looking for a respite from the hustle and bustle of New York City, this park will be an ideal choice. It is even surprising that in such a noisy and intense city you can walk into a park and forget about the rush and noise and just relax.

And if you’re interested in other highlights and attractions in New York and wondering what you can do in New York, we recommend our other posts from the United States.