Perhaps the most famous park in the nation – and well-known all over the world – is Central Park in the heart of New York City.
And because New York is such a massive, bustling city, Central Park’s attractions and beauty are an even more welcome respite to residents and visitors alike.
The park was established in 1857 on nearly 800 acres during a time when New York City was already a major center of business and commerce. City officials recognized the need for a relaxing area for residents to decompress from the stress of the city and held a design competition to expand the existing park.
Enter Frederick Law Olmsted, an up-and-coming landscape architect, and fellow designer Calvert Vaux. Their plans were met with overwhelming approval, and construction began the following year, continuing even through the tumultuous years of the American Civil War.
Olmsted and Vaux had elaborate ideas to fill the sanctuary with architecture and gardens with special destinations within the park. It was completed in 1873 to rave reviews, but fell into disrepair over the years.
The park has undergone major renovations since, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in the 1960s. It is now a World Heritage Site as well and remains a major tourist spot and welcome place of recreation for city residents.
And within the park are many attractions that are famous in their own right. Central Park has your playgrounds and picnic areas, but on a grand scale. There are over twenty themed playgrounds, gardens and ponds, and art installations.
Visitors can rent a bike or take a stroll over a bridge evoking the gardens of Europe, or enjoy one of the many unique themed areas like Strawberry Field that pays homage to John Lennon with the famous ‘Imagine’ mosaic, or the Shakespeare Gardens that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back through the centuries.
It has become a cultural hub for concerts and theater like Shakespeare in the Park, offers outdoor movies, festivals and fairs, and the typical park offerings like jogging trails and bike paths.
There’s plenty for families to enjoy, as well with a visit to the Central Park Zoo or the notable carousel – built in 1951 and now one of the world’s largest.
Horse and carriage rides, ice skating in the winter, and several of the world’s most famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Cloisters and the American Museum of Natural History offer enough to fill several days of exploration.
Don’t forget to visit Belvedere Castle, one of the original Olmsted and Vaux architectural features, which is now a museum and gift shop that chronicles the park’s fame and history.