| Manhattan Central Park | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| City | new York |
| Location | |
 40 ° 46 ′ 57 ″ N 73 ° 57 ′ 58 ″ W | |
| Official site | |
Central park is a large park in the heart of new York, forming a large green space within Uptown Manhattan and constitutes a district in itself, clearly separating theUpper East Side of Upper West Side, and stretching to the southern fringes of Harlem. It covers no less than 340 hectares and represents a practical oasis in which to flee momentarily from skyscrapers and noise. Central Park is one of the most famous parks in the world, being featured frequently in movies.
Central Park is bordered to the north by Central Park North (110th Street), to the east by Fifth Avenue, to the south by Columbus Circle and Central Park South (59th Street), and to the west by Central Park West (Eighth Avenue). , or Frederick Douglass Boulevard north of Central Park).
Understand
In the 1850s, aware of the need for New Yorkers for a large public green space in which to escape the urban chaos and noise, New York City Hall selected a vast expanse of land in Upper Manhattan. Landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux developed the concept for this park, influenced by the naturalistic landscapes that were popular at the time. All architectural elements and paths had to be visually integrated into the landscape, in order to maintain a "bucolic" effect on the whole park, thus allowing it to stand out from the rest of the city. The park was officially completed in 1873, after the "importation" of more than 500,000 cubic meters of topsoil from near New Jersey and millions of trees, shrubs and other plants that made up the new park's original residents.
During the 20th century, this park experienced many hazards, sometimes neglected, not defended against vandalism and serving as haunts for all kinds of criminals and sometimes revitalized for a short period. As things became critical, the Central Park Conservancy was founded in 1980 to protect and restore it. Unfortunately, the struggle for security is still alive today, and you will need to be on your guard when you visit.
To go
Central Park is served by metro by lines TO, B, VS, D and 1 at Columbus Circle (station at the southwest corner of the park), knowing that lines B and C also make stops on the west side of Central Park, with stops at the 72nd, 81st, (under the Museum of History Naturelle, Upper West Side), 86th, 96th, 103rd and 110th Street. A little further to the west, the lines 2/3 (express) serve 110th Street and Lenox Ave., near the northeast corner of the park. From the Upper East Side, it is possible to access the park by taking the lines 4, 5 Where 6', along Lexington Avenue then walk 3 blocks west. Finally there is a station on the lines NOT, Q and R at the intersection of 5th Av. / 60th Street and the F at 57th Street / 6th Av., both of which are near the southern edge of the park. The bus is another means of accessing the park with lines M106, M96, M86, M79, M72 M66 and M1, M2, M3 and M4 along 5th Avenue / Madison Avenue and the M10 along Central Park West.
To see
Central Park is subdivided into four "quadrants". From south to north:
South End
South End runs from Central Park South to the Lake, north of Terrace Drive (72nd Street).
- 1 Arsenal 64th Street and Fifth Avenue
from Mon. to Fri. 9 h - 17 h. 
free. – A surprising brick building dominating the park and designed to resemble an English castle. Built in 1851 to serve as an ammunition depot for the New York National Guard. Today there is a drink stand and a fresco depicting the activities that can be done in the park. - 2 Bethesda Terrace and Fountain Terrace Drive (72nd Street) – One of New Yorkers’s favorite meeting place in Manhattan. this terrace is dominated by the fountain of theAngel of the Waters installed in 1873 and has since become emblematic of the park.
- 3 Billy Johnson Playground 5th Avenue and 67th Street (immediately north of the Children's Zoo) – A charming old-fashioned playground, with a stone bridge, a granite slide, a gazebo, a pond, and white cedar wood games.
- 4 Central Park Zoo 5th Avenue and 64th Street,
1 212 439-6500 Nov-Mar: every day 10 h - 16 h 30, Apr-Oct: from Mon. to Fri. 10 h - 17 h, Sat-Sun / public holidays 10 h - 17 h 30. adults 10 $, seniors 7 $, children 5 $, free for children 3 and under. – Renovated in 1988, the zoo has existed since the 1860s. Note that this zoo is modest in size, but it houses both polar and tropical animals (monkeys, birds). The ticket also gives you access to the "Children's Zoo" where there are animals to pet, a duck pond and lots of games for children. - Dairy 65th Street, 1 212 794-6564 Every day 10 h - 17 h. – Built in the 1870s as an actual dairy farm, it looks like a Western church. Today it is a visitor center and a souvenir shop. Next to it is the Chess & Checkers House, another visitor center with a number of chess and checkers tables under the shade of a pergola.
- Friedsman Carousel 65th Street, 1 212 879-0244 Apr-Oct: from Mon. to Fri. 10 h - 18 h, Sat-Sun 10 h - 19 h ; Nov-Dec: every day from 10 h until dusk, Jan-Mar: Sat-Sun / public holidays only from 10 h until dusk. 2 $ by ride. – An old-fashioned carousel built in 1908 and at this location since the 1950s.
- 5 Grand Army Plaza Fifth Avenue (between 58th and 60th Streets) free. – A public square at the southeast corner of the park, making it one of the main accesses. The name of the square is a tribute to the Union Army during the Civil War and is adorned with a bronze depiction of General William Sherman. There is also the Pulitzer Fountain, adorned with a bronze statue of the Roman fruit goddess, Pomona.
- 6 Heckscher Playground – The largest and oldest playground in Central Park. Contains many games for children.
- The Pond (the pond) (South of Central Park between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) – Near Grand Army Plaza, this pond offers a relaxing bucolic setting. The rustic "Cop Cot", a wooden building overlooks the pond not far from the Sixth Avenue access.
- Sheep Meadow (west side of the park between 66th and 69th Streets) – A large and green lawn originally a sheep meadow. Nearby is a Victorian-style building which now houses the La Tavern on the Green
- 7 Strawberry fields Central Park West, 72nd Street – baptized in 1981 in homage to John Lennon, who was assassinated nearby. His widow, Yoko Ono, who still lives in the Dakota building, their home near the park, donated $ 1 million to decorate the area, with hundreds of trees, flowers and even strawberries being planted. This place now serves as a “Garden of Peace”. The city of Naples for his part offered a commemorative mosaic, adorned with the simple word "Imagine".
- 8 The Ramble and The Lake
from Mon. to Fri. 
free
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Great Lawn
The Great Lawn Quadrant runs from the Lake to the 86th Street Cross Road.
- Ancient Playground 5th Avenue and 85th Street – Inspired by the proximity to the Egyptian wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this playground contains several pyramid-like structures.
- 9 Belvedere Castle 79th Street, 1 212 772-0210 from Tue to Sun 10 h - 17 h. free. – Sitting on Vista Rock, one of the park's highest points, this "castle" offers an excellent vantage point of Central Park, especially to the north. Very good location for photographers, there is a natural conservatory. Just below, on the north side, is the Turtle Pond (the turtle pond), a small marshy-looking pond where there are several varieties of poisonous frogs, insects and birds.
- Conservatory Pond (east side of the park between 72nd and 75th Streets) – Better known as Model Boat Pond, it is common to see regattas of model sailboats, maneuvered by members of the Model Yacht Club or rented by visitors from nearby establishments. Immediately north of the pond you will find a sculpture inspired byAlice in Wonderland depicting the tea scene, while on the west side you can see a statue of Hans Christian Andersen, reading a story to his famous Ugly Duckling.
- 10 Great Lawn – In the center of Central Park is the Great Lawn itself, a large area suitable for ball games, lizarding in the sun and picnicking. Immediately to the east is theObelisk, monument of more than 20 meters erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, around 1500 BC. JC.
- The Lake (Lake) free; boat rental, 12 $/time. – Very good place to enjoy your afternoon at the park. Boat rental at Loeb Boathouse (on the east side) for a ride on the water. the Bow Bridge, which is worth a look, spans the lake in the middle.
- Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground 5th Avenue and 79th Street – this playground contains gates adorned with animal sculptures.
- The ramble 79th Street (entrance from Loeb Boat House to the south or Belvedere Castle to the north) – A sort of "mini forest", described by its designer as a "wild garden," the Ramble stretches over a wooded hill, with winding paths, rocky outcrops, secluded glades and a cascading stream. The Ramble is also a great place for bird watching, with over 250 species of birds stopping there during migration.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
One of the largest and most important museums in the world dedicated to art and culture and requiring several hours, even days, to be properly explored. This neo-Gothic building first opened in 1872 and over time has seen many extensions. Today it offers hundreds of rooms on two levels housing thousands of artefacts from around the world and from all periods of human history and covering all possible and imaginable artistic applications. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum reserves several of its rooms for temporary exhibitions.
On the first floor is the ’American Wing (“American wing”), comprising chronological rooms and a decorative art piece from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The hall of Weapons and Armor, featuring body guards and swords, firearms and more from around the world; Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas; Egyptian art, considered the most important collection in the world outside of Cairo; European Sculpture and Decorative Arts , including several rooms dedicated to Renaissance painting; Greek and Roman art, including numerous examples of classical sculpture, vases and bronzes; Medieval Art, and its room inspired by cathedrals and equipped with several Romanesque rooms and the section Modern and Contemporary Art, presenting works by the greatest masters of these periods such as Balthus, Boccioni, Bonnard, Matisse and Picasso.
The sections of the second floor are Ancient Near Eastern Art, featuring monumental Assyrian bas-reliefs and statues; Chinese art, comprising several exceptional Buddhist statues, jades, calligraphy and chronological rooms; Cypriot art; European paintings and sculptures, comprising masterpieces by Cézanne, Monet, Renoir, Rodin, Van Gogh, among others, five paintings by Johannes Vermeer (no museum in the world has so many); a very important collection ofMuslim art, as well as numerous rooms dedicated to all the countries of the Far East.
- 11 Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) 1000 Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, 1 212 535-7710 from Tue to Thu 9 h 30–17 h 30, Fri-Sat 9 h 30–21 h, Sun. 9 h 30–17 h 30, closed on Mondays. Pay what you want; the ticket allows entry on the same day to Cloisters Museum (suggestion: Adult 25 $, seniors 17 $, student 12 $, free for children under 12). –
The Reservoir
This sector extends from the transverse path of 86th Street to the transversal path of 97th.
- The Reservoir – Built between 1858 and 1862, the Reservoir is the largest body of water within Manhattan. Renamed "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir" in 1994, "the Reservoir" and much appreciated by joggers because of the panoramic track of 2 km surrounding it.
- Safari Playground Central Park West, 91st Street – A safari-themed playground with statues, hippos, a canoe-shaped structure and tree houses.
- Wild West Playground Central Park West, 93rd Street – A playground, this time laid out on the theme of the Wetern, with a wooden fort, canals, sandboxes and water jets.
North End
This quadrant runs from the 97th Street Crossroad to the northern edge of Central Park.
- Charles A. Dana Discovery Center 110th Street (between Fifth and Lenox Avenues), 1 212 860-1370 From Tue to Sun 10 h - 17 h. – on the north shore of Harlem Meer, the Discovery Center hosts community education programs and temporary exhibits, as well as a fun and popular place to rest. Note that anglers must release their catch.
- Conservatory garden 5th Avenue (between 104th and 106th Streets) of 8 h at dusk. – A garden of over two hectares, it is the only official garden in Central Park, representing Italian, French and English landscaping and adorned with numerous sculptures.
- Great Hill (west side of the park between 103rd and 107th Streets) – One of the highest points in the park, Great Hill is a verdant hill surrounded by majestic elms for a picnic.
- Harlem Meer (east side of the park between 106th and 110th Streets) – This 4.5 ha lake is one of the most pleasant places in Central Park, surrounded by flowering trees where several species of fish and turtles coexist.
- The Pool (west side of the park between 100th and 103rd Streets) – One of the most idyllic and tranquil landscapes in all of Central Park, the pool is an excellent place for serene contemplation, with its grassy shores and nearby waterfalls. A stream,The Loch flows from the Pool ers to the northeast. Follow the Loch under a canopy of tall trees to the waterfalls it takes, then further down under some stone arches.
Do
It's only natural to head to Central Park for some fresh air in such a dense city, and it's also a good place to meet up or get a little exercise.
- Walk on foot – Numerous tracks and trails make it the perfect place to walk or run. For jogging, the three best places are: the alleys, which crisscross the park and have a track dedicated to joggers; the Reservoir and its track; and three different bridle paths, one adjacent to the Reservoir, one in North Meadow and one south of the park, each forming a loop of over1,5 km.
- Bike and skateboard – The path encircling the park constitutes the best place and contains tracks dedicated to these practices. Boarders can also take the paved lanes. Note that bicycles are prohibited on pedestrian paths. Bicycles for hire near Loeb Boathouse.
Sport
Central Park has a large number of sports facilities. For all of these courts other than basketball, handball and volleyball, a permit is required.
- Horse riding , 1 914 633-0303 – The nearby Riverdale Equestrian Center offers experienced riders (only) rides in Central Park.
- Tennis center (near West Drive between 94th and 96th Streets.) – has several courses.
- Great Lawn – Has land of basketball, baseball / softball and soccer.
- North – There are lots in North basketball, baseball / softball and soccer, Football and of handball.
- Sheep Meadow – We can play croquet north of Sheep Meadow and Volleyball.
Aquatic leisure
- Peach – No kill fishing is possible in Harlem Meer, there is even a shop at the north end of the Meer.
- Swim – You can swim at the Lasker Pool outdoor swimming pool at the north end of the park; entry is free, but it is forbidden to bring anything other than a towel, shoes, a book and a bottle of water and you must bring a padlock, bags are prohibited.
Two types of Boats are available:
- Loeb Boathouse rental for 12 $ half an hour and 6 $ the additional 15 mins.
- Conservatory Pond – scale models of sailboats.
Winter sports
- Woolman rink – the Ice skate can be done at two locations in Central Park outdoors.
- 1 Victorian Gardens Amusement Park – Woolman Rink converted to outdoor ice rink when water freezes.
- Lasker Pool
- Cross-country skiing – A popular activity in Central Park and can be practiced in any space, but only when there is at least 15 cm snow on the ground.
Others
- Horse drawn carriage ride along 59th Street (The carriage leaves from a point in the south of the park between 5th and 6th Avenues, opposite Plaza Hotel), 1 212 246-0529 50 $ for the first 20 mins and 20 $ all the 15 min then.. – Running year-round, (except in extreme conditions), the horse-drawn carriage remains a popular and romantic way to visit Central Park.
- Delacorte Theater (Location of the Public Theater / New York Shakespeare) – Festival in summer.
Eat
There are kiosks all over Central Park: hot dogs, pretzels, soda, ice cream are easy to get. The park also contains several cafes, but since they do not have an address, you might have a hard time finding them. Many of these cafes are seasonal and operate roughly from early April to late October. Most of them serve burgers (including vegetarians), sandwiches, and coffees, teas and cold drinks. The cafes are located on 65th Street (at the north end of the sports fields near the carousel), at Conservatory Pond near Alice in Wonderland (approx. 73rd Street, east side of the park), at the north end of Sheep Meadow (west side of the park towards 69th Street), and on North Meadow (approx. 100th Street).
- The Boathouse North lane around The Lake – Located in the Loeb Boathouse, the Boathouse features a restaurant with tables overlooking the lake, a terrace bar, and express coffee for quick orders, counter service.
- Leaping Frog Cafe at the Central Park Zoo – Counter service and seating available inside and outside the zoo.
Housing
It is forbidden to sleep at night in Central Park. Consult the neighboring districts pages for more suitable accommodation offers: Midtown, Theater District to the south and Upper West Side West.
