Central Park facts

Central Park facts

 

Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the fifth largest park in the city, covering 843 acres (341 ha). It is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated 42 million visitors annually as of 2016, and is the most photographed location in the world. (Central Park facts).

Who owns Central Park?

Central Park is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation but since 1998 has been managed by the Central Park Conservancy, under an agreement with the municipal government in a public-private partnership.

Central Park History

After a large park was proposed in Manhattan in the 1840s, it was approved in 1853, covering 778 acres (315 ha). In 1857, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition for the park with their “Greensward Plan.” Construction began the same year; Existing structures, including a majority-black settlement called Seneca Village, were seized and demolished through eminent domain.

The first areas of the park were opened to the public in late 1858. Additional land at the northern end of Central Park was purchased in 1859, and the park was completed in 1876. New York City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses began a program in the 1930s to clean up Central Park after it fell into decline in the early 20th century. The Central Park Conservancy, created in 1980 to combat further deterioration in the late 20th century, has renovated much of the park since the 1980s.

Design and layout

Central Park is divided into three sections: the “North End” extending over the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir; “Mid-Park”, between the Reservoir on the north and the Lake and Conservatory Water on the south; and the “south end” below the lake and conservatory water. The park has five visitor centers: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Belvedere Castle, Chess and Checkers House, Dairy, and Columbus Circle.

The park features natural-looking vegetation and landforms, almost entirely landscaped when it was built in the 1850s and 1860s. It has eight lakes and ponds created artificially by damming natural seeps and streams. There are several wooded areas, lawns, meadows, and small grassy areas. There are 21 children’s playgrounds and 6.1 miles (9.8 km) of the drive.

Central Park is the fifth largest park in New York City, behind Pelham Bay Park, the Staten Island Greenbelt, Van Cortlandt Park, and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, with an area of 843 acres (341 ha; 1.317 sq mi; 3.41 km2). ) Central Park forms its own United States census tract, numbering 143. According to American Community Survey five-year estimates, the park was home to four women aged 19.8 years. Although the 2010 United States Census recorded 25 residents within the census tract, park officials have rejected claims of permanent residence there.

Major attractions

Major attractions include the Ramble and Lakes, Hallett Nature Reserve, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and landscapes such as Sheep Meadow; entertainment attractions such as the Wollman Rink, Central Park Carousel, and the Central Park Zoo; formal spaces such as Central Park Mall and Bethesda Terrace; and the Delacorte Theater.

Biodiversity

Biologically diverse ecosystems contain hundreds of species of plants and animals. Recreational activities include horse-drawn carriage and bicycle tours, cycling, sports facilities, and events such as concerts and Shakespeare in the Park. Central Park is crisscrossed by roads and walkways and served by public transport.

Visitors

Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States and one of the most visited tourist attractions worldwide, with 42 million visitors in 2016. The number of unique visitors is deficient; A Central Park Conservancy report conducted in 2011 found that between 8 and 9 million people visited Central Park, with 37 to 38 million visits. By comparison, there were 25 million viewers in 2009 and 12.3 million in 1973.

The number of tourists as a proportion of total visitors is much lower: in 2009, tourists were estimated to be one-fifth of the 25 million park visitors recorded that year. A 2011 conservancy report gave a similar ratio of park use: only 14% of visits were by people visiting Central Park for the first time.  According to the report, about two-thirds of visitors are regular park users who enter the park at least once a week, and about 70% of visitors live in New York City. Furthermore, peak visits occur on summer weekends and most visitors use the park for passive recreational activities such as walking or sightseeing rather than active sports.

Selected as a historical site

Its size and cultural standing make it a model for urban parks around the world. This resulted in Central Park being designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963 and a New York City Scenic Landmark in 1974. Central Park is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation but since 1998 has been managed by the Central Park Conservancy, under an agreement with the municipal government in a public-private partnership. The Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, raises Central Park’s annual operating budget and is responsible for all of the park’s primary care. (Central Park facts)

Frequently asked questions

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